Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. (Photo : Getty Images)
Middling squad FC Schalke 04 (5-6-2, 17 points) will try to get back to its winning form as they face reeling team Bayer 04 Leverkusen (5-6-2, 17 points) in a 2016-2017 Bundesliga season match on Dec. 11, Sunday at the Veltins Arena.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 11:30 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Schalke snapped a seven-game unbeaten run in their most recent fixture last Saturday after they were nipped by current league leaders RB Leipzig, 1-2, on the road at the Red Bull Arena, as per BBC Sport.
Leipzig striker Timo Werner broke the game's deadlock with a spot kick right in the second minute of the match off a foul by Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann inside the penalty area.
Head coach Markus Weinzierl's side was able to find the equalizer in the 31st minute with a left-footed shot from the left side of the box by Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac.
However, Leipzig got a huge break in the 47th minute when Kolasinac had an own goal, giving the hosts the winning goal to stay unbeaten in the season.
With the loss, Schalke remained in the eight spot of the league table. They are tied on points with Bayer Leverkusen, who are in ninth place, but has a higher goal difference.
Meanwhile, Bayer is coming off a 1-1 draw with last season's 2. Bundesliga champions SC Freiburg at their home field of BayArena also last Saturday, ESPN reported.
German midfielder Janik Haberer scored the opening goal for Freiburg in the 30th minute with a right-footer from the center of the box off an assist by Italian midfielder Vincenzo Grifo.
Head coach Roger Schmidt's team was able to equalize in the 60th minute with a goal from Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu from a pass by teammate Julian Brandt.
Bayer is on a three-game winless slide after winning their two previous matches.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a tight 2-1 decision for Bayer Leverkusen.
Schalke starting lineup (3-1-4-2 formation): Fahrmann; Nastasic, Naldo, Howedes; Kolasinac; Bentaleb, Schopf, Goretzka, Geis; Meyer, Choupo-Moting
Bayer Leverkusen starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Leno; Wendell, Dragovic, Henrichs, Jedvaj; Calhanoglu, Kampl, Havertz, Aranguiz; Brandt, Hernandez
