Schalke close on unwanted record, Atletico defend Liga lead

Paris (AFP)

Struggling German giants Schalke have to win to avoid equalling an unwanted record, while a chastened Atletico Madrid return to their La Liga title quest and there are big games at the top of the table in Italy and Holland.

AFP Sport selects some of the standout football action in Europe this weekend:

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– Historically bad Schalke? –

Schalke v Hoffenheim, Saturday 1430 GMT

Rock bottom of the Bundesliga, Schalke will be in joint possession of an ignominious record should they fail to win at home to Hoffenheim. The Gelsenkirchen club have gone 30 games without winning since their last victory, at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on January 17 last year.

With veteran Swiss coach Christian Gross now in charge, Schalke stand just one game away from equalling Tasmania Berlin’s record of 31 Bundesliga matches without a win, set in 1965/66.

There was an explanation for Tasmania’s awful showing: they had been an amateur club before being parachuted into the top flight because the authorities wanted a representative from West Berlin after Hertha were demoted. In contrast, as traditionally the club with the third-biggest support in Germany, Schalke’s record has been shameful.