2
2
Match - Sun 26 August, 00:00,
| Goals | Goals |
|---|---|
| 20. Felipe (Trevizan Martins) (43’) | 25. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (52’) |
| 22. Adrian Nikci (80’) | 10. Lewis Holtby (64’) |
Schalke want to get closer to Dortmund and Bayern
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Schalke finished last season in third place behind champions Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich but were far from competing with those two German giants as they finished 17 points behind eventual winners Dortmund and were mainly in competition with Borussia Mönchengladbach for third position finish (a place that guarantees direct Champions League qualification).
The Royal Blues have been dealt a major blow with Spanish legend Raul leaving the club. Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar is the club’s main source of goals but Raul was the heartbeat of the club in his couple seasons spent there.
Young German sensation Lewis Holtby has revealed his excitement at the prospect of the coming season at Schalke and says he would be happy to step into Raul's playmaker role at the German club and that the club is ready to proceed with the post Raul era.
"He is one of the greatest footballers of all time and he was a really important figure for the club," Holtby told Bundesliga.com.
"He scored and set up a lot of goals for us, but now we have to look for a new forward. We have a new, young, team that wants to win trophies.
"We have to stay in top form, especially with the Champions League to think about too. I think that's a recipe for winning titles,” the Germany under-21 captain concluded.
Hannover 96 was the surprise package of last season's UEFA Europa League as they reached the quarter-final stages of a European competition for the first time in the club's history. However, the will want to go one step further this season and qualify for the Champions League through a good season in the Bundesliga.
Hannover could lose their main striker early into the season; Lazio manager Vladimir Petkovic has identified Mohammed Abdellaoue as the ideal signing to partner Miroslav Klose up front.
Schalke has won the last three Bundesliga meetings between the two sides whilst Hannover last beat The Royal Blues in August 2010.
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