Sylla on the scoresheet in 1-1 draw at Darmstadt

Sylla replaces suspended Džeko

As Miron Muslic confirmed at Thursday’s press conference, Moussa Sylla replaced the suspended Edin Džeko in the side after the Bosnian’s red card against Hannover. The S04 head coach made no other changes to his squad from last week’s 2-2 draw.

Karaman and Ljubičić with Schalke’s best chances in the first 15 minutes

S04 started brightly, pressed high and put the hosts under pressure whenever they had the ball. The Royal Blues registered their first effort of the game in the fourth minute, when Kenan Karaman’s left-footed strike from 15 yards out was turned behind by SVD goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen for a corner. Three minutes later, Timo Becker and Soufiane El-Faouzi were sharp at the other end, combining to dispossess Luca Marseiler as the hosts launched their first dangerous attack.

In the 14th minute, Fraser Hornby headed wide, but a better chance came moments later at the other end. Moussa Sylla collected a long ball out on the right and played it into the middle for Dejan Ljubičić, whose first-time effort flew narrowly over the bar.

VAR rule out a Darmstadt goal – Lidberg cancels out Sylla’s opener

The hosts were growing into the game and looked to have gone 1-0 up. After a corner, Fabian Nürnberger picked up the ball on the edge of the box, somewhat fortunately kept it as he moved into the area and got a shot away. Loris Karius made the save, but the rebound dropped back to Nürnberger, who then stood on Moussa Ndiaye’s calf, sending him to the ground. Nikola Katic’s clearance then ricocheted off Ndiaye’s back and into the back of the net, but Guido Winkmann on VAR duty sent referee Robert Hartmann to the monitor and the goal was rightly ruled out (18’). There was more bad news for the Lilies five minutes later, when Luca Marseiler went down injured off the ball and had to be carried off. Killian Corredor replaced him.

The game then started to become rather scrappy, with both sides struggling to find any real rhythm. Aside from a Nikola Katic header from a corner that drifted just wide of the far post (29’), much of the action was confined to the middle of the park during this spell. However, Schalke were able to improve their attacking play towards the end of the first half. Moussa Sylla slipped Adil Aouchiche in neatly, and after the midfielder skipped past Patric Pfeiffer, Marcel Schuhen denied him (41’).

Schalke did take the lead shortly afterwards. Adil Aouchiche’s corner was headed against the far post by Timo Becker, before Moussa Sylla nodded in the rebound from close range (44’). But with seven minutes added on, the hosts hit back before the break. A free-kick reached Isac Lidberg via Patric Pfeiffer, and the striker turned before firing through Nikola Katic’s legs to make it 1-1 at half time (45’+5).

Becker denied by Schuhen – Karius produces fine save to frustrate Hornby

Neither head coach made any substitutions at the break, and the pattern of the game did not change much either. It remained an even contest, with plenty of duels in midfield. Schalke carved out an opening in the 57th minute after the ball worked its way through Adil Aouchiche and Soufiane El-Faouzi to Timo Becker on the right side of the box. He aimed a left-footed effort towards the far corner, but Marcel Schuhen got down well to make the save.

Five minutes later, Fraser Hornby had a big chance to put the hosts 2-1 in front. The ball broke kindly for the forward, however Loris Karius was equal to his attempt. Shortly afterwards, Kai Klefisch headed wide from 12 yards (64’).

Gomis misses great chance to make it 2-1

At the start of the final 15 minutes, Marco Richter played Fraser Hornby through inside the box, only for Loris Karius to get down quickly to keep out the striker’s effort (76’). Six minutes later, Timo Becker struck one from distance, but his powerful shot was too central and Marcel Schuhen held on comfortably.

Two minutes later, substitute Christian Gomis had a golden chance to make it 2-1. The forward started the move himself by winning a header, capitalised on a mistake by Patric Pfeiffer and raced in behind, only to fire over the bar. There were no further notable chances and the game therefore ended in a 1-1 draw.

Friendly in Schweinfurt

Schalke’s next league game will be on 5th April at home against Karlsruher SC (13:30 CEST). They will, however, be in action next week during the international break, playing a friendly at third-tier side 1. FC Schweinfurt 05. The match at the Riedel Bau Arena im Sachs-Stadion will kick off at 18:00 CET on Thursday (26/3).