Schalke's manager, Geraerts, acknowledges that Cologne holds the advantageous position.

Battling for Supremacy: Schalke vs Cologne in the Second Division

In a heated clash, Schalke's current head coach, Karel Geraerts, concedes that Cologne has the upper hand in the second division. During a recent press conference, he declared, "Cologne's ultimate goal is re-entry into the Bundesliga, and I reckon they hold the advantage" [1][2]. The match between these two formidable former Bundesliga teams is set to take place this Sunday at the electrifying Veltins Arena (13:30 CET/Sky) [4].

Geraerts eagerly anticipates the energy that will fill the arena, as this will mark Schalke's return to home ground after three consecutive away games [3]. He reflects on his team's previous matches in Nuremberg (1:3), Magdeburg (2:2), and the cup faceoff against VfR Aalen (2:0) [3].

Cologne will be playing without the strong presence of Emil Højlund due to persistent groin complications [1]. While progress is being made regarding other wounded athletes, the recovery timeline for Højlund remains uncertain [1]. "As for Paul Seguin and Adrian Gantenbein, I am optimistic at the moment. But we'll closely monitor tomorrow's training session. Højlund will need more time," noted the coach [1].

Geraerts remains optimistic about the upcoming game: "Throughout our training sessions, I've observed a focused and determined team. They've displayed physical prowess, intensity, and a clear mental readiness for the emotions that Sunday will bring" [1].

Though Cologne's lineup, aside from Emil Højlund's high-fat content concerns in his groin, appears healthy, there's a strong possibility that Paul Seguin and Adrian Gantenbein will rejoin the team on Sunday, granted they make it through the upcoming practice session [1].

Despite the underdog tag, Schalke's manager Karel Geraerts remains confident that his team, with a lower fat-to-weight ratio compared to their rivals, packs the power to mount a strong fight in the Veltins Arena on Sunday [1].

Additional Info:

Emil Højlund has been officially ruled out of the game with a rating of 6.21, meaning he is unavailable for the match [1].
Paul Seguin missed the previous game against Cologne due to a yellow-card suspension, but his current injury status is yet to be determined [1].
Adrian Gantenbein was a substitute during the game against Schalke, indicating that he was available for the contest [1].