The hope was in vain, in the end Schalke 04 had to take the bitter path back to the second division.
The Schalke fans defiantly stretched their scarves in the air, while their defeated heroes sat on the lawn deeply disappointed: Coach Thomas Reis’ team lost 2: 4 (1: 2) at RB Leipzig, which is not the fifth relegation in the club’s history to avert more. Schalke follows Hertha BSC directly in league two.
After the first half of the season, the Gelsenkircheners were actually already beaten with only nine points. The fifth relegation of Schalke 04 after 1980/81, 1982/83, 1987/88 and 2020/21 from the Bundesliga was only fixed after the end of the 34th matchday and the defeat in Leipzig, despite a strong second half of the season with 22 points.
Strong second half doesn’t help anymore
Coach Thomas Reis took over from Frank Kremer at the end of October. After eleven match days, Schalke took over the Red Lantern from Reis’ predecessor club VfL Bochum. Only after the winter break did the measures taken by the new coach gradually take effect – but in the end too late.
Reis: “Didn’t seal relegation today”
The disappointed Schalke coach Thomas Reis: His team is relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga.
“If you look at the second half of the season, for which we unfortunately can’t buy anything, but the way we came back today with the mentality and the belief that we can maybe still achieve something impossible, that’s what I’m open to definitely seen it,” said the disappointed coach after the last game of the season. The game was a reflection of the season: “We didn’t seal the relegation today.”
After the defeat in Leipzig, goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann slowly squatted down in front of his goal, covering his face with his hand to hide his tears. Team manager Gerald Asamoah ran across the pitch trying to somehow cheer up his heartbroken players. Reis went into the curve and applauded the fans who had traveled with him.
Konrad Laimer (10′), Christopher Nkunku (19’/90′ + 4′) and Yussuf Poulsen (83′) had destroyed Schalke’s last hopes of staying up in the league with their goals for Leipzig.
Twin Pack by Nkunku
The goal by Marcin Kaminski (28th) and an own goal by Willi Orban (49th) were not enough for the Royal Blues to leave the penultimate place in the table. With his two goals, Nkunku drew level with Bremen’s Sascha Füllkrug at the top of the scorers list, each scoring 16 times.
Even the ferryman cannot prevent a backlog
The hosts immediately put the pressure on in front of 47,069 fans in the sold-out Red Bull Arena. Timo Werner missed the lightning start after failing to get the ball in time after a pass from Laimer in the opposing penalty area (3′). But Schalke held up well, running up Leipzig again and again. On the other hand, Marius Bülter tested RB keeper Örjan Nyland, who was preferred to Janis Blaswich (4th).
In the Schalke goal, Reis relied on the recovered Ralf Fährmann, who replaced Alexander Schwolow, in the decisive game of the season. However, even he could not prevent the early deficit. Fährmann repelled Dani Olmo’s shot, Laimer then only had to push in. A little later Nkunku let several opponents stand and raised, but shortly afterwards missed the opportunity to make it 3-0.
Hope through slapstick own goal
However, the guests, who had to do without the yellow card suspension duo Simon Terodde and Moritz Jenz, were not discouraged. Kaminski headed the goal from a corner. After the break, Schalke immediately had the opportunity to equalize: the guests attacked early and, thanks to Dominick Drexler, got the ball in the penalty area, Marius Bülter hit the post, Orban finally awkwardly steered the ball into his own goal when trying to clear.
Schalke then continued to try and initially had the Leipzig advances largely under control before the home side finally prevailed.
