With the courage of desperation, FC Schalke 04 landed a liberating blow in the fight for relegation and left the direct relegation places for the first time in six months.
The Royal Blues prevailed in the hard-fought basement duel against Hertha BSC 5: 2 (2: 1), gave the Red Lantern to the Berliners and climbed to 16th place for the first time since the beginning of October.
Tim Skarke (3rd), Marius Bülter (13th, 78th), Simon Terodde (48th) and Marcin Kaminski (90th + 2) scored the goals for Gelsenkirchen, who after two defeats with 0:5 goals with the had their backs to the wall.
VfB Stuttgart could overtake Borussia Dortmund again with a point win on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky).
“There was a lot at stake, the pressure was great, but we withstood it. We had good control of the game, which gave us security,” said Schalke’s double packer Bülter at “DAZN”. The victory gives “self-confidence, but we know that we haven’t achieved anything yet.”
Stevan Jovetic (45′ + 3′) and Marco Richter (84′) scored for Hertha, who were particularly weak on the defensive. After the sixth game in a row without a win, the first relegation of the Berliners in eleven years is getting closer.
“It was a real slap in the face. We knew how important the game was,” admitted Hertha sporting director Benjamin Weber: “We’re brutally disappointed.” Regarding the future of coach Sandro Schwarz, he said: “It is natural that we will turn every stone.” First there is an analysis.
Reis successfully converts FC Schalke’s starting eleven
Schalke coach Thomas Reis had changed his team to five positions after the 2-0 defeat at TSG Hoffenheim: Defense stabilizer Moritz Jenz, with whom the Royal Blues had not yet lost, returned after thigh problems, second division record scorer Terodde was up for the first time since over Two months back in the starting eleven, captain Danny Latza surprisingly replaced U21 national player Tom Krauss on the six. Defense chief Maya Yoshida was also out.
Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz only made two changes compared to the 1-0 draw against RB Leipzig: Richter started on the right flank, Jovetic as the second striker.
After exactly one minute, the air was already out – the ball had to be replaced, record-breakingly early. The new ball was in the goal a minute and a half later: Skarke hit the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area – his first goal for the Royal Blues. Driven by ex-Schalke Kevin-Prince Boateng, who quickly carried the ball to the kick-off point, Hertha responded with furious attacks.
Desolate Hertha changes early
But Schalke was mercilessly effective: After a measured cross from Skarke, Bülter headed in to make it 2-0. On the other side, Jovetic was denied by goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann, who deflected the ball to the post (22′). But the hosts fought for an advantage, the Hertha defense wobbled alarmingly.
Schwarz reacted and replaced Tolga Cigerci for ex-Schalke Suat Serdar after just 25 minutes. But initially little changed: Dominick Drexler missed the possible 3-0 with a header (32nd).
Then Fährmann had to leave the field with a thigh injury – and Hertha loaned Alexander Schwolow back between the Schalke posts for the first time in the second half of the season (36th). The first shot was right there: Jovetic hit the corner.
Kaminski’s dream free-kick puts the end to Schalke
Schalke didn’t let that shock them. New substitute Kenan Karaman served Simon Terodde and the 35-year-old scored his fourth goal of the season in his first start-up since early February.
The hosts now had the match under control. The Berliners were hardly dangerous. Instead, Schalke went even further: The strong Bülter scored his second goal of the evening to make it 4-1.
Richter shortened after a fine counterattack by Berlin, but unfortunately injured his eye and even bled; Henning Matriciani accidentally caught his finger when the ball was already in the net.
Kaminski provided the final point, crowning a perfect evening from the perspective of the Royal Blues with a great free-kick goal to make it 5:2.