Džeko strike earns 1-0 win over Bielefeld

Ayhan starts in place of suspended Katic

With Nikola Katic unavailable after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in Fürth last weekend, Mertcan Ayhan came into the starting XI in defence – the only change to head coach Miron Muslic’s side. Kevin Müller was again selected in goal, with Loris Karius still unable to take part in team training this week because of a back problem.

Džeko on hand after Ayhan header hits the bar

The visitors from East Westphalia were not overawed by the ever-impressive atmosphere inside the VELTINS-Arena, having two chances to go 1-0 up inside the opening two minutes. First, Joel Grodowski raced clear on goal after a through ball and tried to round Kevin Müller, but the keeper was alert and smothered the ball at his feet. A goal would likely have been ruled out for offside in any case. Less than a minute later, Grodowski threatened again. After a Rochelt delivery from the left, the forward side-footed the ball on target first time, but was again denied by Müller.

S04 took a little while to settle, but soon began looking to get forward with purpose against a bold Bielefeld side. Edin Džeko’s first effort, after a Kenan Karaman pass on the edge of the box, flew well wide in the sixth minute. Nine minutes later, the Bosnian made no mistake to put Schalke 1-0 in front. Adil Aouchiche’s corner from the left was met first by Mertcan Ayhan, whose header came back off the bar. Džeko reacted quickest to the rebound and prodded home from six yards with his right foot.

With the lead behind them, Miron Muslic’s boys continued to dictate the game. They were strong in the challenge and the crowd responded with repeated applause for a number of impressive ball recoveries. In the 23rd minute, the Royal Blues won another corner, again taken by Aouchiche. Timo Becker got his head to the ball under pressure from Mael Corboz, but the ball cleared the crossbar this time. Bielefeld then carved out another attacking moment of their own. Jannik Rochelt drove forward well down the left, only for Mertcan Ayhan to bring the move to an end with a fine sliding clearance inside the box.

In the 34th minute, Rochelt did manage an effort on goal. Following a long clearance from DSC keeper Jonas Kersken and a flick-on from Roberts Uldrikis, the attacker got a toe to the ball, but Kevin Müller made himself big and blocked with his chest. During a strong spell for the visitors, it was S04 who almost found a second goal, but Edin Džeko fired into the side netting from a tight angle in the 41st minute.

Less than a minute later, the hosts had another chance to make it 2-0. Adil Aouchiche surged forward through midfield before switching play out to Soufiane El-Faouzi on the right. Schalke’s number 23 wasted no time in shooting from the edge of the box and forced an outstanding save from the Bielefeld keeper. The Royal Blues threatened again in stoppage time at the end of the first half, this time through Kenan Karaman, whose header from a Dejan Ljubičić cross was clawed off the line by the DSC goalkeeper at full stretch. Moments earlier, Bielefeld had an effort of their own, but Roberts Uldrikis’ header from a Corboz cross went straight into Kevin Müller’s arms.

Karaman denied by the bar

Both sides looked to get forward quickly after the restart. S04’s first dangerous moment of the second half came through Kenan Karaman, who just poked the ball wide of the right-hand post from a tight angle and at full stretch after an Adil Aouchiche pass (52’).

Soon afterwards, the Schalke captain had another good opening. Dejan Ljubičić did well to hold up a long ball inside the box before laying it off to Kenan Karaman. After exchanging passes with Edin Džeko, the attacker got his shot away, but Arne Sicker made a crucial late block and diverted it behind for a corner (55’).

After an hour, thousands inside the VELTINS-Arena were on the verge of celebrating more than once in the space of a few seconds. Timo Becker first got his head to a corner, but Jonas Kersken kept it out with his foot. Edin Džeko’s follow-up was then blocked behind for another corner by the Bielefeld goalkeeper. From that set piece, Ron Schallenberg eventually got a shot away from a tight angle, but lifted it over the bar.

In the 67th minute, Schalke went close again. Kenan Karaman perhaps placed his header too well, sending the ball against the crossbar from another Aouchiche corner. Six minutes later, Bielefeld carried a threat once more. Joel Grodowski beat his man on the right, rounded Kevin Müller in the box and, while falling, sent the ball across the face of goal. Fortunately, Noah Sarenren Bazee was just unable to get on the end of it in the middle.

After 81 minutes, the visitors thought they had levelled. Joel Grodowski had the ball in the net, but the video assistant intervened and ruled the goal out for a narrow offside. Bielefeld continued to push for an equaliser in the closing stages, hoping to take a point back to East Westphalia. Schalke’s defence stood firm, however, and kept them out until the final whistle. Deep into the more than seven minutes of stoppage time, substitute Moussa Sylla almost wrapped things up on the break, but Jonas Kersken was alert once again to deny Schalke a second goal.

Another home game to come

FC Schalke 04 are at home again on matchday 26, when Hannover 96 visit the VELTINS-Arena. The game against the Lower Saxony side kicks off at 13:30 CET next Sunday (15/3).