Overview
- Schalke lead the 2. Bundesliga with 10 wins from 14 matches after a 2–1 victory over Paderborn.
- Coach Miron Muslic confirmed Christian Gomis and Amin Younes have returned to full team training without restrictions, with match inclusion still to be decided.
- Ron Schallenberg is ruled out for the Düsseldorf game with a reported thigh strain, according to team reporting.
- Vice-captain Timo Becker is progressing in knee rehab, with a return expected in the new year rather than for Düsseldorf.
- Muslic publicly praised captain Kenan Karaman as an indispensable leader, and BILD reported he is set to start against Fortuna Düsseldorf.