If Schalke 04 wants to keep pace with the German Bundesliga’s top teams, it will have to find a way to beat lowly Hoffenheim at home on Friday.

Schalke most recently suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to FC Augsburg, but will have a chance to rebound quickly against 17th-place Hoffenheim at Veltins-Arena.

The top three teams in Germany’s top flight gain an automatic ticket into next year’s UEFA Champions League group stage, and Schalke currently sits five points behind third-place Hertha Berlin.

Meanwhile, Nice-Montpellier kicks off in Ligue 1, and Nice will likely need all three points to maintain its fifth-place position over the weekend.

If you will be watching today’s soccer, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule below):

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

2:30 p.m. — Fox Sports 2/Fox Sports Go/Fox Soccer 2Go — Schalke 04 vs. Hoffenheim

FRENCH LIGUE 1

2:30 p.m. — beIN Sports en Español/beIN Sports Connect — Nice vs. Montpellier

ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

2:45 p.m. — beIN Sports USA/beIN Sports Connect — Birmingham City vs. Cardiff City

SPANISH SEGUNDA DIVISION

2:30 p.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Elche vs. Córdoba

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

2:45 p.m. — Fox Soccer 2Go/Fox Soccer Plus – Greenock Morton vs. Raith Rovers