VfB Stuttgart vs Schalke 04 preview - Di Matteo demands points

Roberto Di Matteo says it is time his side picked up some points away from home as he leads Schalke to Stuttgart this Saturday.

Since becoming Schalke coach, Di Matteo has only won games at the Arena AufSchalke, losing twice on his travels.

It is a problem which has persisted since the start of the season with only a 3-0 win in Bremen bucking a trend of defeats away from home which Di Matteo says must come to an end sooner rather than later.

"We're always struggling away from home," he said. "But now we want to get some points in Stuttgart and try to get a bit of continuity into our performances.

"We're hoping to get a good result and we are working towards that."

Di Matteo faces a crucial week with Wednesday's trip to Maribor determining their future in Europe this season.

However, the Italian first wants to ensure his side remain inside the top six before turning his attention to a make-or-break trip to Slovenia.

"We've got to prepare ourselves well psychologically," he said. "It will be their first home game under Huub Stevens so it will be a different kind of atmosphere.

"I just hope we can build on our performance from the Mainz game."

Stuttgart will also be looking to build on their performance from last weekend, when they won 4-1 at Freiburg in former Schalke coach Stevens' first game back in charge of the Swabians.

"So far, our plan has worked and we are ready," said the man voted by Schalke fans as their coach of the century after he led them to victory in the UEFA Cup in 1997 and almost to an elusive Bundesliga title four years later.

He may be able to welcome Daniel Didavi into his squad, but Georg Niedermeier is still out.