2. Bundesliga Friday Preview

Matchday 15 of Germany’s second-tier will kickoff with a couple of fixtures.

League leaders Schalke will play away at underachieving Fortuna Düsseldorf, while Prussen Münster host Hannover in the opening games of matchday 15 in 2. Bundesliga.

Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. FC Schalke 04

Düsseldorf are unbeaten in their last five games against Schalke, but the visitors will head into Merkus Spiel Arena as a league leader. Meanwhile, Markus Anfang’s side suffered another defeat in Dresden a week after the new coach celebrated his first win in a dramatic manner against cellar-dwellers Magdeburg.

Schalke haven’t been explosive in the final third, but they’re far more than capable of grinding out results. Miron Muslić managed to consolidate the defense, with only two multiple goal margin victories by the league leader after 14 games. In addition to Kenan Karaman and Moussa Sylla, Bryan Lasme added more firepower for Schalke in last week’s six-pointer win against Paderborn. Their 31 points is the best tally at this stage of a 2. Bundesliga campaign since Eintracht Braunschweig’s 34 in 2012/13.

Predicted Lineups

Düsseldorf: Kastenmeier ©; Oberdorf, Egouli, Daland, Lenz; El Azzouzi, Suso; Rasmussen, Appelkamp, Muslija; Itten

Schalke: Karius; Ayhan, Katic, Kurucay; El-Faouzi, Schallenberg; Porath, V. Becker; Wallentowitz, Karaman ©; Sylla

Prussen Münster vs. Hannover 96

Hannover are close to perfection since the league’s return from November’s International break. Christian Titz’s side faced tricky fixtures, but they convincingly beat Karlsruhe after ending Paderborn’s club record winning streak. With a win on Friday, Hannover will have a chance to momentarily climb to second in the standings.

As for the hosts, they also avoided defeat in the last two fixtures. A goalless draw with the current table-toppers followed by a comeback win in Bielefeld on matchday 14. Although they’re still only five points adrift of the relegation zone, Münster climbed to the top half of the table after their only second victory in the last seven rounds.

Predicted Lineups

Münster: Behrens; Meyerhöfer, Heuer, Jaeckel, Kirkeskov; Benger; Bouchama, Hendrix ©; Mees; Vilhelmsson, Batista Meier

Hannover: Noll; Ghita, Tomiak, Nawrocki; Matsuda, Leopold ©, Oudenne; Aseko Nkili, Chakroun, Bundu; Källman