Driven by the outstanding new signing Andreas Vindheim, Schalke 04 celebrated their first win of the new year and are still involved in the promotion race of the 2nd Bundesliga.
The Royal Blues won 5-0 (2-0) at the penultimate Erzgebirge Aue on Saturday evening, Vindheim played well on his debut, scored a goal himself and initiated three goals.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better start, I’m just happy that I could help the team with my crosses,” said Vindheim on “Sky”: “We have every chance of promotion, that’s the goal of the club and my personal goal .”
First, the Norwegian prepared the lead through goalscorer Simon Terodde (36th), only two minutes later he successfully completed it himself (38th). Danny Latza (51./63.) increased with a brace, the second goal of the veteran also came after a cross from Vindheim – just like Marvin Pieringer’s (72.) goal to the final score.
Schalke only loaned national player Vindheim from Czech giants Sparta Prague on January 10 in order to put more pressure on the right flank.
With their first win in six weeks, Schalke (34 points) is now in fourth place and, together with Werder Bremen in third place (35) and fifth-placed Hamburger SV (34), form a prominent field of pursuers. At the top are Darmstadt 98 (39) and FC St. Pauli (37).
In view of the recently lost points, Schalke coach Dimitrios Grammozis had demanded a strong performance from his team “over 90 minutes”, “not just over 55”. Until the double strike by Terodde and Vindheim, it was initially a fairly balanced game on a battered pitch. As a result, Schalke became more and more dominant, Aue literally fell apart after the break.