F. Zwayer
Full-time
90'
+ 3
90'
+ 3
90'
+ 1
Substitution
90'
+ 1
ADDED TIME
We're into four minutes of added time...
90'
THIRD CLEAN SHEET IN A ROW?
If Bremen can hold on, it will be the first time under Florian Kohfeldt that they have gone three games on the bounce without conceding a goal.
88'
BIG CHANCE TO SEAL IT
Osako is played in on goal by Eggestein but rather than go for goal, Osako thinks Klaassen is alongside him and plays the ball across goal. But Oczipka is in between them and clears it behind.
84'
SELKE SHOT BLOCKED
Tidy move from Bremen as Osako lays the ball off to Klaassen whose pass sends Selke through the Schalke defence. He lines up to shoot from just inside the Schalke box, but Kabak gets across well to make the block.
84'
BOUJELLAB CAUTIONED
A late challenge on Klaassen puts Boujellab's name in the referee's box.
80'
LAST CHANCE SALOON
Miranda comes off and Burgstaller comes on for him. Three forwards on the pitch for the final 10 minutes to give Schalke one last chance...
80'
Substitution
74'
15 TO PLAY...
Schalke have had 8 shots to Bremen's 0 in the second half so far, but the score remains the same and Bremen are beginning to see more of the ball. There's not much time left for someone to change the scoreline for the home side.
70'
DEFENSIVE MOVE
Kohfeldt looking to make sure of what he and Bremen have - a striker (Sargent) is replaced by defensive midfielder Bargfrede.
70'
Substitution
67'
NERVES AT A HIGH POINT
Mistakes being made by both sides here in the last few minutes. Both sides nervous in making sure they get what they want from this game, with both Schalke and Bremen desperate for points. Bremen are in pole position, but Schalke are on top...
61'
SHOT BLOCKING BONANZA
Three shots in the space of a few seconds are blocked in the Bremen box from Schalke, with the away side's defence going into every challenge to make sure they stay ahead. Bremen right up against it here.
59'
RASHICA WITH A KNOCK
Bremen's star forward has come off and can be seen on the sideline with heavy ice padding on his left thigh. Hopefully just a precaution for the Kosovo international.
58'
Substitution
58'
Substitution
57'
MUCH BETTER FROM SCHALKE
The home side have dominated this second half so far, with almost all of the play being in and around the Bremen box thus far. Already three corners in this half alone and another big chance as Raman's flick into the box is headed on by Sane and fired at goal on the volley by Gregoritsch, but it blazes over the crossbar.
55'
MCKENNIE OFF
And Wagner is forced to take McKennie off early him, replacing him with Nassim Boujellab in midfield.
55'
Substitution
54'
BIG CHANCE FOR RAMAN
A ball into the box from Schöpf is not dealt with by Moisander and the ball falls to Raman. He touches it right and opens space for a shot at the near post, but Pavlenka is well placed to make a good save.
53'
LAST WARNING FOR MCKENNIE
The Schalke midfielder is a touch too heavy with a shoulder challenge on Osako here and referee Felix Zwayer tells him it's his last warning, with the USMNT star already on a yellow card.
51'
GREGORITSCH HEADS WIDE
A half-chance for Schalke as a free-kick curls towards the back post and Gregoritsch meets it, but he can't aim his header on target.
48'
CHANGE OF FORMATION
Raman is up front with Gregoritsch now, and it's a four-man defence for them with Kabak and Sane in the centre, Kenny on the right and Miranda on the left. A 4-1-2-1-2 with McKennie holding in midfield, Schöpf in the No.10 and Caligiuri on the right, with Oczipka on the left.
47'
GOOD WORK FROM MCKENNIE
The American wins the ball back on the halfway line and powers towards the Bremen goal. Space opens for him to shoot, but he drags his effort wide of the mark. A good sign of his passion though.
46'
Substitution
46'
Substitution
46'
Substitution
46'
BACK UNDERWAY
The second half begins in Schalke and changes for both sides. Todibo and Matondo are off, with Oczipka and Raman on. While Bittencourt has come off with injury for Bremen, replaced by Osako.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 1
ADDED TIME
Three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
44'
MCKENNIE BOOKED
The Schalke midfielder is booked for a rash challenge on Friedl he's now suspended for Schalke's trip to Union Berlin next week.
43'
HEADER OVER
Sargent flicks on a corner from the near post and it's Moisander who has a difficult headed chance in front of goal. He's facing away from goal and has to adjust quickly to get the ball heading towards the target, but it loops over the crossbar from the captain's head.
40'
NEXT CHANCE FOR BITTENCOURT
Eggestein battles his way forward through midfield and slides the ball inside a defender to Bittencourt. His first touch takes him slightly away from goal but he shoots with power towards the near post. This one fires high over the crossbar, though.
37'
UP AGAINST IT NOW
Schalke are going to have to change things up now with a lead to overturn. McKennie has the first opportunity of the game on goal for the home side. His header from Caligiuri's free-kick goes wide from the back post, though.
32'
WHAT A GOAL!
A stunning goal from Leonardo Bittencourt to put Bremen ahead. Rashica breaks through midfield and plays Bittencourt the ball on the right. He cuts inside onto his left foot, almost 30 yards from goal, and smashes the ball over Nübel and into the far top corner. His fourth goal of the season and possibly his best and most important.
31'
MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT
Schalke have pushed up the pitch, but things still aren't any easier for them. The Bremen defence has dominated against Caligiuri, Gregoritsch and Caligiuri so far with Schalke still yet to make an attempt on goal. The home side yet to earn a corner, either.
26'
TODIBO CAUTIONED
Now it's Todibo in the book, the second for Schalke. A push on Osako before he could collect possession.
24'
HERE COME SCHALKE
After sitting deep for the opening 20 minutes, Schalke are now pushing further up the pitch and pressing Bremen back into their own half with and without the ball. Still yet to have an attempt on goal, but more promising signs.
21'
LANGKAMP BOOKED
The Bremen defender is cautioned for a tactical foul on McKennie is he broke away through midfield.
19'
BIG BATTLES
Bremen have been the better of the sides in these openings and are getting loud support from the sidelines here at the Veltins-Arena. Schalke are sitting back, happy to allow them time on the ball, but are battling hard in midfield and defence giving their visitors no space on the ball when they bring it forward. Hard challenges flying in already.
14'
KLAASSEN FORCES A SAVE
A loose pass from Kabak is taking back by Bremen on the edge of the Schalke box. Klaassen shoots at goal quickly, but it takes a deflection off Sane and loops into the hands of Nübel. First shot on target of the day.
13'
BREMEN IN CONTROL
The away side have controlled the game so far, with almost 80 per cent of possession keeping Schalke penned in their own half.
9'
RASHICA DOWN
Not happy with a late challenge from Caligiuri, but Rashica is back up and will be able to carry on. Schalke certainly showing Bremen that they are ready to fight today.
5'
FOUR-MAN DEFENCE
Bremen lining up with Moisander and Langkamp in the centre of defence and Vogt just ahead of them in a holding midfield role. Gebre Selassie and Friedl are both playing as wing-backs. Kohfeldt holding nothing back.
4'
VOGT STRUGGLING
Back from injury today, Vogt is struggling to continue here as he continues to limp on the pitch. We could see an early change in defence for Bremen unless he can shake it off.
3'
EARLY BOOKING
Gregoritsch is shown a yellow card early here after a late challenge on Kevin Vogt.
1'
WE'RE UNDERWAY
The ball is rolling at the Veltins-Arena as Schalke get things underway at home.
Kick-off!
READY FOR ACTION
The sun is shining brightly in Gelsenkirchen and we're ready for action between Schalke and Bremen.
TEAM USA
Bremen striker Josh Sargent has made eight senior international appearances alongside Schalke's Weston McKennie. Today the pair go head-to-head in the search of Bundesliga points.
HERE'S WHY GREGORITSCH STARTS
Michael Gregoritsch has scored six goals in nine meetings with Bremen - more than against any other Bundesliga club. The Austrian has gone eight games without a goal since netting on his Schalke debut on Matchday 18, however, and starts today looking to break that unwanted record.
TODIBO AND MIRANDA TOGETHER
One on-loan Barcelona defender joins another in the Schalke starting line-up today. Todibo and Miranda come in, with the latter set for his first start in the Bundesliga in 2020. David Wagner will be hoping they can help Schalke enjoy more possession today, after the Royal Blues only took 30 per cent of the ball in their defeat to Fortuna Düsseldorf in midweek.
DIFFERENT STORY TODAY
Victory in the reverse fixture took Schalke to within three points of first place. Three wins from 16 league games since have seen them fall some 27 points behind pacesetters Bayern Munich. It's a totally different prospect for Schalke today, who are looking for their first win in 10 Bundesliga games. Hopes comes from the fact that Schalke have recorded more Bundesliga wins over Bremen than against any other Bundesliga club (38).
QUESTION MARK OVER BREMEN FORMATION
Is it a three-man defence or four at the back? Only time will tell with Kevin Vogt providing variation for Kohfeldt. He can play in the centre of defence or in holding midfield, and we could see the shape of the Bremen side changing with and without the ball throughout the game because of that.
SCHALKE TEAM NEWS
The big news from David Wagner's Schalke line-up is in goal, where Alexander Nübel is back in and starts ahead of Markus Schubert. Nübel will join Bayern Munich in the summer and Wagner had stated that Schubert would be his No.1 until the end of the season. However, with a run of 10 games unbeaten, Wagner has switched things up. Three other changes outfield see Jean-Clair Todibo start in defence ahead of Matija Nastasic, Juan Miranda at left wing-back, while Michael Gregoritsch comes in to start ahead of Guido Burgstaller in attack.
BREMEN TEAM NEWS
Just one change for Bremen after their midweek draw at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach and it's an enforced one. Milos Veljkovic is suspended, but Kevin Vogt is fit again to start in his place in a three-man defence for Florian Kohfeldt's side.
SCHALKE STARTING XI!
Nübel - Kabak, Sane, Todibo - Kenny, McKennie, Schöpf, Miranda - Caligiuri (c), Gregoritsch, Matondo
SCHALKE SUBS
Schubert, Nastasic, Raman, Kutucu, Boujellab, Burgstaller, Oczipka, Becker, Thiaw
BREMEN STARTING XI!
Pavlenka - Langkamp, Vogt, Moisander (c) - Gebre Selassie, M. Eggestein, Klaassen, Friedl - Bittencourt, Sargent, Rashica
BREMEN SUBS
Kapino, Lang, Augustinsson, Osako, Selke, Bartles, Groß, Woltemade, Bargfrede