Schalke 04 in the prestige duel: U19 and women's derby on April 27th!

Schalke 04 in the prestige duel: U19 and women's derby on April 27th!

The season in the second division is coming to an end, and FC Schalke 04 faces exciting challenges. On Sunday, April 27th, the fans expect several highlights in the Schalke stadium. At 11 a.m., the U19 of FC Schalke meets Fortuna Düsseldorf's youth selection. This encounter is part of the knockout phase of the Reformed Junior Bundesliga, and the Schalke go to the round of 16 as a favorite after being group A group winners. The game is broadcast live on Sky Sport Bundesliga and in the free livestream, which gives the audience the opportunity to experience the young talents up close.

against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, which ensures additional tension. This game marks the first after the announcement that coach Kees van Wonderen is leaving at the end of the season. Sky also transfers this encounter from half an hour before kick -off to Sky Sport Bundesliga 4.

Revier derby of women

In the afternoon of April 27th there is another big event in the football calendar: the district derby of women in the Westphalia League, where Schalke meets Dortmund. The game begins at 3 p.m. in the Red Earth stadium. It is remarkable that the 10,000 tickets for the game are already sold out. Sky also transfers the women's derby to Sky Sport News and in the free live stream. This is a sign of the growing interest in women's football, which in Germany, despite stagnating development, is increasingly gaining popularity.

a current study addresses the challenges and possibilities of the women's Bundesliga. After the EM 2022, the number of spectators increased considerably. However, there is disagreement among clubs on measures to professionalize the league. Germany is lagging behind compared to England and the USA, especially in relation to media rights.

growth plans for the future

The DFB emphasizes the risk of hanging in international competition. Comprehensive measures are planned to strengthen the women's Bundesliga and make the best league in the world. This includes an increase in the league on 14 teams from the 2025/26 season as well as higher infrastructure requirements and minimum salaries for the clubs. The aim is to double the sales of the league to 25 million euros within five years.

Some of the challenges that need to be mastered include timely scheduling the games to ensure both optimal TV quotas and stadium visits. An example of this is the planned top game between Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, which makes access to work through unfortunate kick -off times. The success of women's football depends not only on sporting performance, but also on the development of your own identity and fan base, regardless of the men's departments.