by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of its home game against Dusseldorf on Saturday, second-division leader Schalke 04 is just one step away from returning to the top flight after its relegation in 2023, and fans have been ready for celebration.

Schalke has a six-point lead with three games remaining.

Schalke sacked five coaches over four years before former Plymouth coach Miron Muslic took over in 2025.

The club continued on its path toward financial consolidation after board member for sport Frank Baumann took over the management in 2025. The former German international then signed Muslic, a previously unknown coach.

Schalke's hopes received a boost during the winter transfer window of the 2025-26 season with the arrival of veteran striker Edin Dzeko. The 40-year-old contributed six goals and three assists in eight games.

Dzeko finds himself ahead of a cheerful summer. After Bosnia and Herzegovina's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the two-time Premier League winner would see double joy if returning to the Bundesliga.

"We won't spoil the moment and let it slip away," Muslic said, emphasizing his team's resilience on its way up.

"The last ten months have been filled with resistance, adversity and 1,000 hurdles to overcome. We made it because a common goal is uniting us," the 43-year-old said. ■