Promotion fight in the 2nd league
Schalke and Paderborn win – draw in the top game
Updated April 5, 2026 – 3:49 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
At the top of the 2nd Bundesliga table, Schalke 04 and SC Paderborn are celebrating an important three points. The top game in Hanover once again ends without a winner.
FC Schalke 04 defended its lead in the 2nd Bundesliga. On Easter Sunday, the “Royal Blues” celebrated a 1-0 win (0-0) over Karlsruher SC thanks to captain Kenan Karaman’s goal (72nd minute).
Schalke not only had to do without top striker Džeko (shoulder injury) in the game. Before kick-off, the club also announced that defense chief Katić was about to end the season due to a knee injury.
The hosts dominated from the start, but repeatedly failed due to their own lack of concentration or to visiting goalkeeper Hans Christian Bernat. There was hardly any offensive danger from KSC. Even after the break, Schalke created chance after chance before Karaman scored his 12th goal of the season. However, the captain had to be substituted just a few minutes later due to injury. It was only towards the end that the Baden team launched another final offensive, but were unsuccessful.
In the entertaining game, Noel Futkeu had the greatest opportunity. But Fürth’s attacker pushed the ball just past the goal after strong preparatory work from Sayfallah Ltaief (45th). After the restart, Paderborn’s goalkeeper Dennis Seimen was able to direct Jannik Dehm’s long-range shot onto the crossbar with his fingertips (46′).
Then the guests struck ice cold. Stefano Marino coolly capitalized on a wonderful through pass from Laurin Curda with a well-placed shot (51′). It was a perfect attack. The Fürth team fought back against the home defeat. Substitute Lukas Reich shot low from a central position and hit the post. Paderborn then added decisively with Filip Bilbija’s tenth goal of the season (86th).
