Schalke 04 vs RB Leipzig Preview: Team News & Prediction

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RB Leipzig are searching for their first points away from the Red Bull Arena this season, as they visit Schalke 04.

Kick-off date/time: 31 October 2026 at 2:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN+

Schalke 04 preview: In the bottom three

Schalke 04 enter the weekend in the bottom three because of their lack of offensive potency, with only a pitiful four goals scored across seven league matches so far. As a result, they sit below Stuttgart despite having picked up the same number of points.

Frustratingly for Schalke, they started the campaign well but have since dropped off dramatically, taking just two points from the last 12 available. Goalless draws against Elversberg and FC Koln have bookended defeats at the hands of Freiburg and Mainz respectively.

RB Leipzig preview: Travel trouble

It's been two entirely different stories for RB Leipzig in the 2026-27 Bundesliga, depending on where their games have been played. At home, they have been flawless, winning all four of their league matches.

However, it's been a different story on the road. Against Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen and most recently Bayern Munich, Leipzig have fallen short, losing on each occasion. The Bayern defeat was particularly jarring, as the reigning champions thrashed Martin Demichelis's men by six goals to one. Leipzig did at least taste victory away from home in the DFB-Pokal midweek, beating RW Essen despite being reduced to 10 men.

Schalke 04 team news: Injury hit hosts

Schalke 04 will be without up to seven players for the visit of RB Leipzig, including Hojlund, Schallenberg, Sylla and Vozar. Full-back Robin Gosens is doubtful.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Karius; T. Becker, Katic, Kurucay; Dina Ebimbe, Ljubicic, Tanaka, Aouchiche, V. Becker; Karaman, Adamu

Unavailable: Bachmann (Injured), Gantenbein (Injured), Hojlund (Injured), Schallenberg (Injured), Siebeking (Injured), Sylla (Injured), Vozar (Illness)

Questionable: Gosens (Injured)

RB Leipzig team news: Trio still missing

RB Leipzig remain without Gebel, Guiu and Ouedraogo, but Nkunku has a chance of featuring and will likely face a late fitness test.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Castello, Raum; Reitz, El Aynaoui, Banzuzi; Gruda, Romulo, Nusa

Unavailable: Gebel (Injured), Guiu (Injured), Ouedraogo (Injured)

Questionable: Nkunku (Injured)

Key stats

• Leipzig have won the last five Bundesliga meetings with Schalke, by an aggregate score of 22-3. 
• Schalke have won only two of the 12 Bundesliga meetings (D2 L8), the most recent a 3-1 win in Leipzig on 28 September 2019. 
• Schalke's only home win in six meetings (D1 L4) was 2-0 on 19 August 2017; they have lost the last four at the Veltins-Arena 1-15 on aggregate, including 0-5 on 22 February 2020 and 1-6 on 24 January 2023 – Leipzig's joint-biggest wins in the fixture. 
• Schalke, back in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2022/23, are 16th with six points coming into Matchweek 8 and are winless in four (D2 L2). 
• Schalke have scored only four goals – the fewest in the division and their lowest total after seven games in 28 Bundesliga seasons since 1995/96. 
• Schalke have failed to score in all three home games this season (0-0 against Bayern, 0-0 against Elversberg and 0-1 against Mainz) and have not won a Bundesliga home game since beating Werder Bremen 2-1 on 29 April 2023. 
• At the other end Schalke have kept three clean sheets and conceded only seven, and their matches have averaged just 1.57 goals – the lowest in the Bundesliga. 
• Leipzig are fifth with 12 points and have won all four home games this season with an aggregate score of 18-0. 
• Leipzig have won nine consecutive Bundesliga home games since 7 March 2026 – their longest home winning run in 11 Bundesliga seasons (previous best seven) – and have scored in 33 consecutive home games, also their longest such run. 
• Away from home, Leipzig have lost all three games this season (2-11 on aggregate, including 1-6 at Bayern) and five in a row since 2 May 2026, equalling their longest away losing run in the Bundesliga (five, April to August 2021). 
• Leipzig have alternated wins and defeats in each of their last 11 Bundesliga games since 24 April 2026 – every win at home, every defeat away. 

‘Key stats’ are Bundesliga only (not all competitions)

Schalke 04 vs RB Leipzig prediction

This has to be the fixture where RB Leipzig turns things around away from home. They have no chance of challenging the top two without winning games on the road and against a side who’ve won just one Bundesliga match all season, a team of Leipzig’s class needs to be ruthless and put them away.

Scoring goals has not been an issue for Leipzig, only Bayern have hit more in the top flight. Provided the visitors maintain their composure defensively and don’t take their foot off the pedal throughout the 90 minutes, victory in Gelsenkirchen should be theirs as Schalke will surely be unable to contain Leipzig’s attackers.

Schalke 04 vs RB Leipzig tip: RB Leipzig to win