Cellar duel in the 2nd Bundesliga
Strong debut-Karius saves Schalke victory against promoters
Updated on February 28, 2025 – 8:50 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
It looked like a zero number for a long time, but shortly before the end, Schalke’s fans were still redeemed. A debutant in the goal with strong parades recorded the important threesome.
FC Schalke has succeeded in releasing the 2nd Bundesliga relegation battle. In the basement duel against promoted Prussia Münster (13th against 15th), the miners came to a late 1-0 victory. Joker Pape Ba scored the redeeming goal in the 86th minute.
The hosts were the game -determining team over long distances, but there was a long time lacking real goal. Mehmet Can Aydin still had the best chance for Königsblau with his long -distance shot, which was slightly deflected by Paul Seguin, who clapped on the post (63.).
S04 was lucky a little later when his own post prevented the deficit. Aymane Barkok had hit the ball after a cross, which finally landed at Münsters Mikkel Kirkeskov. Its left shot landed on the right inside post and jumped out again (68.). Only the fine solo of BA redeemed the fans of the blue and whites after everyone had already resigned themselves with a division of points.
The decisive man in the hectic final minutes was Schalke goalkeeper Loris Karius. The debutant showed an excellent performance over the entire season, radiated security and captured the three points with two strong reflexes after a Münster corner (89.). For Karius, who replaced regular keeper Justin Heekeren, it was the first assignment in Germany since February 28, 2021.
After the game, he said at Sky: “It is always good for a goalkeeper if he can distinguish himself. But in the end I was in the goal. I tried to give the team security and to defuse what comes on goal.” And further: “This is my job, I would be disappointed if I didn’t keep the balls. It was fine for the debut.”
Fortuna Düsseldorf left valuable points in the promotion race due to the first defeat in the calendar year 2025. The team of coach Daniel Thioune lost 1-2 (1: 1) despite an early lead, and goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier became the tragic figure on Friday evening.
The Düsseldorf goalkeeper caused a penalty in the second half by an impetuous getting in. He parried the first attempt by Julian Green, but had previously left the line too early – when repeating the video evidence (Var) was repeated, Green was accurate (75.). Shortly after the kick -off, the cheering of the Düsseldorf “Jecken” about the leadership of Isak Johannesson (8th) also granted only briefly because Branimir Hrgota (9th) had immediately compensated for on the other side.
Even before the competitors for the top ranks intervene in the 24th matchday, the Rhinelander slipped to sixth place in the table. Fürth is eleventh beyond good and evil.
The largely costumed spectators in Düsseldorf saw an entertaining initial phase. Johannesson from the left edge of the penalty area completed a nice move with a Schlenzer into the far corner, but Hrgota immediately answered after a corner.