Schalke 04 has reported back in the Bundesliga relegation battle. The goalless series ends against VfB Stuttgart at 2: 1 (2: 0).
Thomas Reis roared his joy again and again, then the relieved Schalke 04 coach hugged each of his worn-out players. With a 2-1 (2-0) win against VfB Stuttgart, the royal blue goalless record holders reported back in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga, but the big mistake by goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann when Borna Sosa scored the goal (63.) changed that. nothing.
With luck and skill, Schalke survived the exciting final phase and celebrated their first win after 109 days. The fans then cheered the players loudly and got them in the mood for the upcoming district derbies at VfL Bochum and against Borussia Dortmund. “We’re number one in the pot,” sang the Schalke supporters.
“Something was created. We show what the fans expect from us. It’s just good to score goals,” said offensive player Marius Bülter on “Sky”.
The deficit to the saving 15th place in the table melted down to three points. Dominick Drexler (10th) ended the goalless streak after 403 minutes. Schalke had previously set a Bundesliga record with four clean sheets in a row. Bülter (40th) increased artistically with a hack trick. The VfB remained in the 21st away game in a row without a win and is also under the new coach Bruno Labbadia deep in the basement – level on points with a direct relegation zone.
Rice forced to change
Reis had to change his stable back four. Because three full-backs were injured, Mehmet Can Aydin and Henning Matriciani had to help out. Labbadia trusted the team that had won their first win of the year in a 3-0 win over 1. FC Köln a week ago.
The hosts put Stuttgart under pressure early on with aggressive pressing, captured a lot of balls – and this time they were rewarded: Matriciani extended a long shot from Fährmann to striker Michael Frey, whose cross Drexler converted. An almost forgotten feeling: Schalke last led in the 1-0 win against Mainz 05 on November 9th.
VfB had serious problems getting along with Gelsenkirchen’s uncompromising gait. A header from Wataru Endo – albeit right into Fährmann’s arms – was the first notable scoring opportunity (26′). Schalke remained more determined: After preliminary work by Bülter, Frey failed because of a struggling Hiroki Ito (31st) – and five minutes later Rodrigo Zalazar with a volley shot at keeper Fabian Bredlow.
Bülter’s dream goal
But the royal blue didn’t just fight: After Zalazar’s cross, Bülter hit the ball technically perfectly. And suddenly the bottom of the table led 2-0 for the first time in their 22nd game of the season.
Labbadia made two changes in the second half and a third ten minutes later, and his team was also more committed. Schalke retreated further and waited for a counterattack. After the gift from Fährmann, who brought the guests back into play, the royal blue defense wobbled alarmingly. Fährmann brilliantly parried an Endo header (66′).