2. Bundesliga Preview: FC Schalke 04 vs. Karlsruher SC

2. Bundesliga leaders Schalke host Karlsruhe on Sunday afternoon.

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Promotion hopefuls Schalke entertain Karlsruhe in 2. Bundesliga’s return from international break. The visitors returned to winning ways on matchday 27 with a 3-1 victory over Greuther Fürth.

Edin Džeko was supposed to be back after missing the draw with Darmstadt due to suspension, but the 40-year-old striker suffered a shoulder injury in Bosnia & Herzegovina's historic triumph over Italy to help his country secure a World Cup spot.

Moussa Sylla will be expected to replace Džeko once again as Schalke aim to end a two-game winless streak. Despite their league position, Miron Muslić’s side have only won three out of ten matches since the turn of the year.

Karlsruhe have been in much better form, collecting 10 points from their last five games. However, the 14-point gap with the promotion playoff place seems unreachable with only seven rounds left to play. Nicolai Rapp will be absent because of accumulated yellow cards.

The reverse fixture saw Karlsruhe end Schalke’s five-game winning streak with a comeback victory. Fabian Schleusener scored the winner for Christian Eichner’s side in the 93rd minute.

Predicted Lineups

Schalke: Karius; Becker, Katic, Kurucay, Ndiaye; El-Faouzi, Schallenberg; Ljubicic, Karaman ©, Aouchiche; Sylla

Karlsruhe: Bernat; Ambrosius, Franke, Kobald; Jung, Burnic, Müller, Wanitzek ©, Herold; Ben Farhat, Schleusener