Martin Demichelis is heading into Schalke Vs RB Leipzig with two thoughts running in parallel: the chance to see Edin Dzeko again, and the chance to win. Leipzig’s trainer said he is looking forward to facing his former Manchester City teammate, but made clear that the reunion will not soften the task in front of him on Saturday at 15.30 Uhr on Sky.
The timing matters because Leipzig may also get Christopher Nkunku back into the squad after he missed the last two competitive matches with adductor problems. That would give Demichelis another attacking option at a moment when the team is trying to keep its recovery going after a 1:6 loss at Bayern München and a 1:4 defeat at Real Madrid, followed by a 4:0 win over SV Elversberg and a 2:1 victory at Rot-Weiss Essen in the DFB-Pokal.
Demichelis and Dzeko have already crossed paths more than once. They played together at Manchester City during their careers, and they have also met as opponents in the Bundesliga, which is why Demichelis could talk about the striker with real familiarity. He called it remarkable that Dzeko is still playing, congratulated him, and said he hopes the forward enjoys football until the last day of his career.
That sentiment stops at the touchline. Demichelis was just as direct about the result he wants, saying he wants to win the match. For Leipzig, that is the useful part of the story: the emotional reunion is real, but the scoreboard still decides whether the recent improvement holds. Nkunku’s expected return is part of that picture, although the update stops short of confirming whether he will start or only be available from the bench.
So Saturday is not just another fixture. It is a test of whether Leipzig’s rebound can continue with one of its most important attackers back in the picture, and whether Demichelis can turn a familiar face on the other side into a routine league win.
