Overview
- Schalke sit first after a 2–1 win over Paderborn and look to sustain momentum away to Fortuna Düsseldorf.
- Midfielder Ron Schallenberg is ruled out in Düsseldorf after examinations reported a thigh strain from training.
- Coach Miron Muslic said Christian Gomis and Amin Younes have returned to full training, with their inclusion still to be decided.
- Fortuna have relaid the Merkur Spiel-Arena surface and enter the game with internal uncertainty and one of the league’s weakest attacks.
- About 10,000 Schalke fans are expected in Düsseldorf, with live coverage on Sky and WOW from 18:00 ahead of an 18:30 kickoff.