FC Schalke 04 got out of the relegation zone in the 2nd Bundesliga thanks to a win at 1. FC Nürnberg. Danny Latza scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute on Saturday (November 4th, 2023) for a 2-1 (1-0) win. Florian Flick (47th) had previously equalized Dominick Drexler’s (35th) S04 lead.
The ARD microphone didn’t want to make any accusations: “We had a hard time getting into the game in the first half and didn’t play intensely enough. In the second half we showed a different face.” In the end you could lose a game like this, also because your team gave everything.
Nuremberg-Schalke fan friendship is celebrated
Before the ball rolled, there was already a festive atmosphere in Nuremberg. With a huge banner that stretched across half the stadium, fans from both camps celebrated “An alliance for eternity“.
The reason behind this is that the Nuremberg and Schalke supporters share perhaps the most intense fan friendship in German professional football. But with kick-off they had to rest. Then it was a matter of scoring three important points for both of them.
Schalke good, but also unlucky
Schalke made the better impression right from the start. In the first away game under the new coach Karel Geraerts, the Gelsenkirchen spectators who had traveled with them stopped supporting because the team’s performance at Karlsruher SC (0:3) was so poor. But in Nuremberg, the Schalke professionals delivered good football to their fans, at least in the first half probably the best on a foreign pitch this season.
The efforts were almost rewarded in the sixth minute. After a low cross from Thomas Ouwejan, Lino Tempelmann, who played for the “Club” last season, finished from six meters but only hit the post (10th). It wasn’t the only time that Schalke had bad luck with aluminum – Kenan Karaman also failed to hit the outside post from a similarly good distance (37th).
Schalke’s Drexler rewards the guests
Although Karaman was annoyed that he didn’t make more of this opportunity, at that moment he was already instrumental in ensuring that Schalke was already in a comfortable situation. Because just two minutes earlier, the striker had asserted himself robustly in the opponent’s penalty area and served Dominick Drexler, who scored the opening goal for the guests (35th).
However, very little came from Nuremberg. Only an unsuccessful pass from S04 keeper Ralf Fährmann gave the hosts a good chance, but Jens Castrop did not accept the gift and shot just over the goal (14th).
Fiel’s changes make Nuremberg strong
FCN coach Fiel reacted and made two changes during the half-time break – and this immediately had an impact on the pitch. Nuremberg started with a lot of momentum and came dangerously into the opponent’s penalty area. After a corner, the ball ended up at the feet of Florian Flick, who equalized with a low shot from 16 meters (47′). Fährmann didn’t look too good in this situation either; the shot was obscured but had little speed.
Shortly afterwards, only centimeters were missing and the game would be completely turned around. Marcin Kaminski made a bad pass, after which Benjamin Goller rounded Fährmann and pushed the ball towards the empty goal – but Kaminski was just able to clear it just before the line (49′).
Lots of struggle, no chances
Nuremberg once again showed its comeback skills in its own stadium. The club was behind in a home game for the sixth time this season, but has yet to lose a game. And in this case too, the start of the second half indicated that the Fiel team could again win at least one point after falling behind. During the week in the cup, the Nuremberg team also managed to turn things around against Rostock (3:2).
Nuremberg’s Benjamin Goller in a duel with Schalke’s Derry Murkin
However, Schalke managed to regain the momentum from the Nuremberg game. The game neutralized itself; although it was intense, it didn’t have any highlights for a long time. Kanji Okunuki had the next notable chance shortly before the end, but his shot went just over Schalke’s goal (84′).
Latza makes Schalke cheer
And yet there was still a winner in the buddy duel. Ouwejan brought one of his dangerous free-kick crosses into the Nuremberg penalty area and found Danny Latza, who headed the celebrated winning goal (89th).
For Schalke, it was the second win in a row in the league after last weekend’s success against Hannover 96 (3:2) – which meant that Geraert’s team was able to move up to 14th place for the time being. Meanwhile, Nuremberg missed out on making it into the top three. Schalke’s Lino Tempelmann said after the final whistle of the sports show: “We defended well and allowed almost nothing.”
Schalke welcomes Elversberg, Nuremberg in Paderborn
Schalke will host SV Elversberg next matchday (Friday, November 10th, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.). The “Club” travels to Paderborn one day later (1 p.m.).