Record against Schalke
Overall: 108 games, 44 wins, 18 draws, 46 defeats, 169:156 goal difference
In the Bundesliga: 97 games, 42 wins, 17 draws, 38 defeats, 151:125 goal difference
Looking back
The teams played out a 1-1 draw in Gelsenkirchen earlier this season.
Striker in form
Sasa Kalajdzic has registered five goals in his last four appearances for VfB, and 10 in total this campaign. The Austrian has also scored more goals from the bench (five) and more headers (five) than any other player in the Bundesliga.
Reunited
Current Schalke head coach Christian Gross was in charge of VfB from December 2009 until October 2010. His assistant coach, Rainer Widmayer, plied his trade at the Cannstatt club until last season, while goalkeeper Michael Langer and defender Sead Kolasinac have also spent time at Stuttgart.
Clinical counters and late goals
Only FC Bayern and TSG Hoffenheim have scored as many goals from counter-attacks (seven) as VfB this season, while only Borussia Dortmund have found the net as often (12) in the final 15 minutes of games.
Suspension looms
Konstantinos Mavropanos has already picked up four yellow cards this season, meaning he’s one away from a ban.