Muslic stresses Schalke's underdog role ahead of Augsburg clash; Gregoritsch chases scoring record

Muslic sets the tone

"Wir müssen unsere Rolle als Aufsteiger kennen," Muslic said, underlining that survival and consolidation remain the primary objectives for a side adjusting to the demands of Germany's top division.

Across the league, attention has also focused on Augsburg striker Michael Gregoritsch, who is within touching distance of Alfred Finnbogason's all-time scoring record at the club. The Austrian international has been a central figure in Augsburg's strong start to the campaign.

In a recent fixture, Augsburg trailed at half-time after Gregoritsch had opened the scoring, but the match turned when Schalke midfielder Ron Schallenberg was shown a red card. Augsburg capitalised on the numerical advantage, scoring twice more to secure the points.

Gregoritsch within reach of record

The result underlined both Augsburg's resilience and Schalke's disciplinary problems, two themes likely to shape the narrative when the two clubs meet in the coming round of fixtures.

Muslic's comments reflect a broader trend in the Bundesliga this season, with promoted clubs adopting a pragmatic mindset as they navigate a division dominated by established powers such as FC Bayern München.

Gregoritsch, meanwhile, continues to deliver the kind of form that has made him a candidate for individual honours. His tally now rivals the benchmark set by Finnbogason during his spell at the club.

Should he surpass the record in the next matches, Gregoritsch would become Augsburg's outright leading scorer in the Bundesliga era, a milestone that would further cement his legacy at the club.

Promoted sides and survival

For Schalke, the focus is squarely on accumulating points. Muslic emphasised that any talk of European qualification would be premature, reiterating that the club's identity must be built on hard work and collective effort.

The Bundesliga returns this weekend with a full slate of fixtures, and the encounter between Augsburg and Schalke is expected to draw significant attention given the contrasting storylines surrounding both clubs.