Overview

• Schalke 04 travels to 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Sunday needing points to secure their 2. Bundesliga status with four matches remaining.
• Captain Kenan Karaman is suspended for two matches following a red card, while Ilyes Hamache, Zaid Tchibara, and Loris Karius are unavailable due to injuries.
• Seven players, including key starters, are one booking away from suspension, adding further challenges to squad selection.
• Coach Kees van Wonderen, confirmed to depart at the end of the season, insists on merit-based team selection regardless of player contracts or age.
• Six first-team players are set to leave Schalke this summer, reflecting broader squad turnover and financial pressures.