Two potential relegation rivals face each other on Sunday when Hertha Berlin take on Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.

Hertha only survived relegation via a playoff against Hamburger SV last season, while Schalke were promoted from the second tier as champions.

Match preview

Despite only sitting above the relegation places on goal difference prior to the weekend's action, Hertha are undoubtedly a more solid defensive unit under Sandro Schwarz than they were under the former Mainz 05 boss's predecessors last season.

However, they head into Sunday's crucial clash against Schalke on a winless run of five games, after four successive draws were ensued by a 3-2 defeat away to RB Leipzig last time out.

Die Alte Dame trailed their opponents by three goals at the break, but they looked to have a serious chance of completing a miraculous comeback when Dodi Lukebakio and Stevan Jovetic struck two goals within three minutes shortly after the hour mark.

However, Leipzig held on to leave Schwarz's side looking nervously over their shoulders towards the bottom of the table, with their fanbase fully expecting the club's winless run to come to an end against struggling Schalke at the Olympiastadion on Sunday.

Schalke, meanwhile, made the inevitable decision to sack head coach Frank Kramer after suffering successive defeats to Hoffenheim in the past week.

Die Konigsblauen were beaten 3-0 at home against Andre Breitenreiter's side last Friday to remain in the automatic relegation places, before being thrashed 5-1 away to the same opponents in the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday evening as Turkey defender Ozan Kabak scored against his former side.

It remains to be seen who the club's hierarchy will turn to as they attempt to avoid an instant return to the second tier of German football, with former Augsburg boss Markus Weinzierl tipped to be interim manager Mike Buskens's fiercest competitor for the permanent position.

Buskens, who made 257 appearances for the club during his playing career, will have the opportunity to lead Schalke from the dugout in Berlin on Sunday, with a win guaranteed to move them outside of the bottom two positions in the table.

Team News

Hertha are likely to remain without Rune Jarstein, Filip Uremovic, Kelian Nsona, Jessic Ngankam and Jean-Paul Boetius on Sunday, while Kevin-Prince Boateng is doubtful to take part due to illness.

Marco Richter made his first start since returning from a testicular tumour against Leipzig last weekend, but he could drop back to the bench to make way for Chidera Ejuke on the left flank.

Schalke, meanwhile, are expected to travel to Berlin without Sepp van den Berg, Marcin Kaminski, Ibrahima Cisse and Rodrigo Zalazar due to injury.

Buskens is unlikely to shake things up too dramatically in his first game in charge - especially given the club's lack of options to do so - but Sebastian Polter will expect to return to the starting XI.

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Christensen; Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Sunjic, Serdar; Lukebakio, Jovetic, Ejuke

Schalke 04 possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Brunner, Greiml, Yoshida, Ouwejan; Krauss, Flick; Drexler, Polter, Bulter; Terodde

We say: Hertha Berlin 2-1 Schalke 04

We expect a closely-fought affair between two struggling sides, but we can envisage Hertha having enough quality to get over the line.

The hosts are a much tighter defensive unit under Schwarz, with their pace and quality in transition likely to hurt Schalke, who appear to be in need of major surgery in the January transfer window.

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