Schalke to continue European push against in-form Augsburg

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With a place in the Europa League already guaranteed, FC Schalke 04 are looking to go one better and claim the Bundesliga's final UEFA Champions League spot, although the Royal Blues face a tough challenge with the visit of in-form FC Augsburg 07 on Saturday (kick-off:15:30CEST/13:30GMT).

Matchday 16 rewind: Augsburg 2-1 Schalke

Schalke's 3-1 victory at Hannover last week means they cannot finish lower than seventh, which is enough to qualify for next season's UEFA Europa League. That win was Schalke's first in five matches but the Royal Blues are still very much in the race for the Champions League. With just two games to go, fourth spot is a real possibility and would put make up for a season in which Andre Breitenreiter's men have not always fulfilled the lofty expectations at the club.

Visitors Augsburg have hit form at just the right moment in recent weeks, finally pulling clear of the danger zone after a season mired at the wrong end of the table. Markus Weinzierl's side could even secure survival ahead of time at the weekend and avoid any final-day nerves.

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Matchday 33 - match stats

Goals: 1-0 Hong (34'), 1-1 Kolasinac (70'), 2-1 Caiuby (90+2')

Just when Schalke thought they had done enough for a point, Caiuby sent a stoppage-time volley into the top corner to lift Augsburg out of the bottom three.

    With seventh place enough for the Europa League, Schalke are guaranteed to finish in the European places.Augsburg have taken ten points from their last four matches.Augsburg need just one more win to be absolutely sure of their place in next season's Bundesliga.FCA have gone three games without conceding – a club record.Six of Augsburg's nine wins this season have come on the road. Never before have they won seven away matches in the Bundesliga, while 23 points – they currently have 22 – would be a club record return on their travels.Die Fuggerstädter are chasing a club-record third successive away win in the Bundesliga following victories over SV Werder Bremen and VfL Wolfsburg.Augsburg recorded their first-ever win over Schalke in the reverse fixture.Caiuby has scored more goals against Schalke than against any other Bundesliga club (six).Joel Matip and Marco Höger will make their final home appearances for Schalke ahead of summer moves to Liverpool FC and 1. FC Köln respectively.

Possible line-ups

Schalke: Fährmann - Caicara, Neustädter, Matip, Kolasinac - Goretzka, Höjbjerg - Sane, Meyer, Choupo-Moting - Huntelaar

Absentees: Uchida (light training), Sam (muscular), Giefer (adductor)

Coach: Andre Breitenreiter

Augsburg: Hitz - Feulner, Gouweleeuw, Klavan, Max - Kohr, Baier - Koo, Altintop, Caiuby - Finnbogason

Absentees: Verhaegh, Esswein (both muscular), Callsen-Bracker (light training), Trochowski, Opare (both knee)

Coach: Markus Weinzierl

History