2nd division, 29th matchday
The Royal Blues prevail against FC Heidenheim and are at least temporarily leaders in the 2nd division. In the top game between St. Pauli and Werder Bremen, it remains exciting until the end.
FC Schalke 04 is at least temporarily the new leader in the 2nd division. The Royal Blues beat FC Heidenheim 3-0 (1-0) on Saturday and thus climbed to first place. Dominick Drexler (35th), Ko Itakura (52nd) and Simon Terodde (90th + 6) provided for the success of interim coach Mike Büskens’ team.
Schalke also benefited from the 1-1 (1-0) in the top game between FC St. Pauli and Werder Bremen. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (43rd) put Hamburg in the lead, Niclas Füllkrug (58th) was able to equalize for Werder. Schalke (53 points) is tied with Bremen in first place, but has the better goal difference.
Schalke initially found it difficult
With five laps to go, the Bundesliga relegated team has an immediate return in mind. Heidenheim said goodbye to the promotion race with the third away bankruptcy in a row.
Schalke initially found it difficult against the well-organized guests, who acted much more purposefully towards the goal. Goalkeeper Martin Fraisl saved twice within seconds in dire need: first against Jan Schöppner and then spectacularly against Tim Kleindienst’s follow-up shot (9th). The Schalke keeper also had to stretch when Maurice Malone volleyed (20′).
The Royal Blues still took the lead when Drexler, after a cross from Marius Bülter and an unsuccessful defense by Oliver Hüsing, practically fell on his head. It was the ninth Schalke goal after a corner kick. Even after the change of sides, Heidenheim invested a lot, but Schalke was more effective. Itakura danced out two opponents before hitting the far corner.
St. Pauli complained about the Bremen equalizer
Despite Füllkrug’s 15th goal of the season, Bremen lost first place. The guests from the Weser had the better chances in the first half. The top scorers Marvin Ducksch and Füllkrug in particular caused a lot of danger in front of the St. Pauli goal. Füllkrug (25′) put the ball next to the post, Ducksch (35’/36′) twice right into the arms of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
Werder coach Ole Werner had emphasized before the kick-off on Sky due to the return of the spectators to the Millerntor: “Today we have to try to stay with us even in this noisy stadium, to steer our emotions in the right direction and our strengths on the pitch bring to.”
Werder didn’t let the deficit make them nervous and continued to play forward. Füllkrug completed a nice combination that equalized. The hosts complained that Felix Agu handballed the visitors before the goal, but the goal was awarded. The Hanseatic League seemed more mature in the game, St. Pauli threw their fighting power into the balance. Goalscorer Guido Burgsteller (78th) still had a good chance for the home side. Ducksch (86th) only hit the crossbar of the St. Pauli goal.
Hardly any hope left for Aue
The relegation of Erzgebirge Aue from the 2nd Bundesliga is getting closer and closer. The Saxons lost 1:3 (0:2) to Hannover 96 and are still at the bottom of the table with 19 points.
For Aue it was the fourth defeat in a row. Julian Börner (3rd) scored the early 1-0 for Lower Saxony, who had not won four times in a row and suffered three bankruptcies. Hendrik Weydandt (24th) increased after video evidence for the North Germans. Nikola Trujic (54th) scored the connecting goal. Sebastian Kerk (75th) made everything clear.