S04 cap title-winning season with 1-0 victory over Braunschweig to reach 70 points

Three Schalke players given send-off – Katic back in the squad

Before kick-off, Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Henning Matriciani and Paul Pöpperl were given a send-off on the pitch by board members Matthias Tillmann, Frank Baumann and Christina Rühl-Hamers, as well as director of professional football Youri Mulder. All three will leave FC Schalke 04 at the end of the season and were able to soak up the fans’ applause for their efforts in Royal Blue.

Around 15 minutes later, referee Dr. Robert Kampka got the game underway. Head coach Miron Muslic made three changes from the meeting with Nürnberg, with Loris Karius returning in goal after missing the game against FCN due to the birth of his son. Kevin Müller dropped to the bench, while Hasan Kuruçay and Moussa Ndiaye came into the side in place of Felipe Sanchez, who was not in the squad, and Vitalie Becker, who was among the substitutes. There was also a welcome return for Nikola Katic, who was back in the Royal Blues’ squad after recovering from a knee injury.

El-Faouzi denied by the post

The visitors showed plenty of intent in the opening stages and looked to get forward, though without seriously troubling Loris Karius. Schalke grew into the game and had a big chance to take an early lead in the 11th minute. Timo Becker drilled a low ball in from the right towards the edge of the box, Kenan Karaman let it run for Soufiane El-Faouzi, and his effort from around 16 yards – deflected by Mehmet Can Aydin – struck the post. Two minutes later, Moussa Sylla went down in the Braunschweig box after a challenge from Kevin Ehlers, but Dr. Robert Kampka waved play on.

Both teams continued to look for a way forward. Adil Aouchiche, played in by Mertcan Ayhan, saw his near-post effort from the left side of the box saved by Ron-Thorben Hoffmann (17’), before Loris Karius gathered Lino Tempelmann’s low shot at the other end (19’). Four minutes later, Mehmet Can Aydin sent a free-kick from around 25 yards over the bar.

Aouchiche opens the scoring

The Braunschweig fans thought their side had gone in front in the 27th minute when Fabio Kaufmann volleyed home first time, but the flag quickly went up, with Faride Alidou offside in the build-up. Instead, it was Schalke who took the lead. Timo Becker sent Kenan Karaman away down the right, and the captain moved the ball on to Dejan Ljubičić. His cross found Moussa Sylla, who had peeled away in the middle and got his shot off first time. Ron-Thorben Hoffmann pushed it out to his right, where Adil Aouchiche was waiting to slot home (36’). Shortly afterwards, Timo Becker got free at the far post and stretched to meet Moussa Ndiaye’s cross, but could only send the ball over the bar (40’).

Both teams had another good chance to score in the four minutes of stoppage time. The lively Faride Alidou was inches away from connecting with Fabio Kaufmann’s low ball across the box (45’+3), before Schalke broke straight up the other end. Moussa Sylla pulled the ball back for Dejan Ljubičić inside the area, but his effort flew over the bar. Dr. Robert Kampka brought the first half to a close with S04 leading 1-0.

Schalke push for a second

Five minutes after the restart, Ron-Thorben Hoffmann kept Braunschweig in the game. Following a Kenan Karaman header from a corner, Moussa Sylla managed to steer the ball goalwards from close range despite being under pressure and losing his balance, but Eintracht’s goalkeeper got across well to push it away.

The Royal Blues continued to get forward and went in search of a second goal. Kenan Karaman’s effort after linking up with Adil Aouchiche was blocked (58’), before Moussa Sylla was inches away from reaching Karaman’s cross at the far post (61’).

The noise then rose inside a sold-out VELTINS-Arena as Dejan Ljubičić and Moussa Ndiaye received a deserved ovation from the fans, with Vitalie Becker and Edin Džeko coming on in their place (66’).

Aouchiche and Vitalie Becker go close – Katic makes comeback

Vitalie Becker won a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 71st minute, which Adil Aouchiche curled straight towards goal, only for the ball to fly just over the far-right corner. At the other end, Erencan Yardimci failed to catch his effort cleanly on the counter and sent it well over the Schalke goal. A minute later, Nikola Katic made his comeback, with the centre-back replacing Mertcan Ayhan to make his first appearance for S04 since matchday 27.

Schalke looked far more likely to score the next goal than Braunschweig did to equalise. In the 79th minute, S04 broke forward through Soufiane El-Faouzi, whose ball in from the right found Vitalie Becker. The left-back did not hesitate and struck it from the edge of the box, sending the ball whistling just past the far post.

Christopher Antwi-Adjei was then introduced alongside Adrian Gantenbein in the 80th minute, making his final appearance for the Royal Blues. The pair replaced Adil Aouchiche and Moussa Sylla. Schalke continued to attack, and Kevin Ehlers just managed to get to Adrian Gantenbein’s cross from the right ahead of Edin Džeko, who was ready to turn it home (85’). The closing stages then drifted towards full time, with the visitors also knowing that a narrow 1-0 defeat would be enough to keep them in the division.

Bundesliga season starts at end of August

Due to results elsewhere, Eintracht Braunschweig finished the season in 15th place. Schalke’s campaign is now also over, with Miron Muslic’s side set for a well-earned break over the coming weeks.

The Royal Blues will then prepare for the upcoming Bundesliga season at their summer training camp in Stubaital from 19th to 26th July. Their first competitive fixture will come in the first round of the DFB-Pokal between 21st and 24th August, before the Bundesliga gets underway between 28th and 30th August.