Schalke 04 vs Stuttgart 18/05/19

18 May 2019

Schalke 04 come face-to-face with relegated Stuttgart for the bottom-of-the-table clash on the final Bundesliga matchday of the season.

Even though they’ve endured a disappointing BL campaign (W8, D8, L17), the hosts have managed to avoid relegation. The Miners have secured fewer home points than any other side in the Bundesliga (14) having lost five of their last seven BL home games (D2, L5). What’s more, the Royal Blues have struggled to find the net in five of those meetings, allowing over 1.5 match goals four times in the process. Additionally, Schalke’s disastrous form in 2019 has seen them pick up just three wins in 16 BL fixtures this calendar year (W3, D5, L8), with only one of those triumphs coming at home. The one thing that can encourage the home side though is their recent home record against Stuttgart (W3, D1), with Schalke netting precisely three goals per match in all three of those wins.

Meanwhile, the visitors are heading towards 2. Bundesliga in spite of the fact they’ve won two of their last three BL games (W2, L1), beating their rivals to nil both times. Stuttgart’s dreadful away form is the main reason they’ve failed to dodge relegation, as the Reds have wrapped up just one point on their previous ten BL road trips. The Swabians have not only conceded over 1.5 match goals across all nine of their losses in that span, but they’ve also struggled to score six times in the process. What’s more, Nico Willig’s men have allowed 3+ match goals in all four of their previous BL away games, as they remain league’s joint-worst defensive team having conceded 43 goals on 16 BL road trips this term.