S04 held to draw by Dresden after going 2-0 up

Two debutants and a first appearance at home for Ljubičić

Head coach Miron Muslic made two changes to his starting XI compared to the game in Bochum. Striker Edin Džeko was handed his first start up front, while new signing Moussa Ndiaye made his debut at left-back. Felipe Sanchez and Mika Wallentowitz dropped to the bench in their place. Alongside Moussa Ndiaye, two other Schalke players also marked a first at the VELTINS-Arena. Dejan Ljubičić – who had already started last week – played at home for the first time, while new signing Adil Aouchiche was included in the matchday squad and came on at half-time.

Džeko fails to take the best chance of the first half

Both sides began cautiously in the opening minutes at the VELTINS-Arena, before Dynamo’s Jakob Lemmer took the first shot of the match from around 20 yards (6’). Schalke were aggressive in the press from the outset and won the ball high up the pitch a minute later through Ron Schallenberg, but Soufiane El-Faouzi’s cross into the area found no-one in the middle. The hosts then went close from a set piece as Mertcan Ayhan’s long free-kick reached Nikola Katic at the far post, though the defender’s header lacked power (8’).

Schalke were now on the front foot and Christian Gomis was quick to react to a long pass from Kenan Karaman, though the attacker couldn’t get a proper finish away from a tight angle (10’). Moments later, Kenan Karaman failed to connect with a low pass from Edin Džeko in a central position after Schalke had combined neatly into Dynamo’s box via Soufiane El-Faouzi. Five minutes after that, new signing Moussa Ndiaye delivered from the left flank towards Tim Schreiber’s goal, but Christian Gomis couldn’t get there in the middle.

A corner conceded by Julian Pauli, won by Kenan Karaman with a sharp delivery, was punched clear at the near post by Dynamo keeper Tim Schreiber in a crowded area (21’). The ball dropped to Moussa Ndiaye, but he couldn’t make it count. Then came Schalke’s best chance of the half: after a Dynamo goal kick, the press paid off again. Dejan Ljubičić put Jonas Sterner under pressure on the right side of Dynamo’s defence, forcing him to play a loose pass into the path of Edin Džeko. Schalke’s number 10 tried to capitalise instantly, but his effort from the left side of the area hit the side netting (24’).

Dynamo replied with a free-kick as Alexander Rossipal stepped up from 27 yards, only for Schalke’s wall to block it (29’). The visitors then had two more attempts in quick succession through Thomas Keller (30’) and Jonas Sterner (32’), without seriously testing Loris Karius. Dynamo increasingly took control of the game, while Schalke only threatened again with a harmless Moussa Ndiaye corner late in the half (40’). In the two minutes of stoppage time, Kenan Karaman tried to pick out Edin Džeko once more with a cross into the box, but it came to nothing and the sides went in goalless at the break.

Džeko scores twice but Dynamo rescue a point

Adil Aouchiche came on for Christian Gomis at the start of the second half. The Frenchman immediately took a set piece in the 47th minute after Edin Džeko had won a free-kick against Thomas Keller, but Tim Schreiber had no trouble dealing with the curled effort from around 25 yards. Shortly afterwards, Ron Schallenberg tested the Dynamo keeper from a central position after getting on the end of a cross from Edin Džeko that Timo Becker had flicked on with his heel (49’).

The home fans were able to celebrate in the 52nd minute. Kenan Karaman won the ball in the centre circle against Julian Pauli, Dejan Ljubičić picked it up and, after carrying it a few yards, laid it off to the left for Adil Aouchiche. The Frenchman immediately played it inside to Edin Džeko, who showed his class and volleyed the ball in to make it 1-0 to Schalke. Buoyed by the lead, Schalke put together another good move five minutes later, with Adil Aouchiche working it back inside for Timo Becker, whose first-time effort flew narrowly wide (57’).

Dynamo responded with a change soon after, bringing on Vincent Vermeij for Christoph Daferner (57’). Following a stoppage in which Nikola Katic received treatment for a cut, the visitors also sent on Ben Bobzien and Nils Fröling for Niklas Hauptmann and Jakob Lemmer. In the 70th minute, Ron Schallenberg intercepted a long kick from Tim Schreiber and nodded it straight to Dejan Ljubičić, who, with his back to goal, laid it off for Soufiane El-Faouzi. The midfielder shifted it across to Edin Džeko, who took aim from around 22 yards and drilled a right-footed shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

Džeko then came off to a huge round of applause, with Moussa Sylla, back in the matchday squad, taking his place (72’). Dynamo looked to add fresh impetus too, as Stefan Kutschke and Konrad Faber replaced Jason Ceka and Jonas Sterner (74’). Just 60 seconds later, Moussa Ndiaye was also applauded off by the Schalke crowd, with Hasan Kuruçay coming on. The 28-year-old quickly had an impact on the game, unfortunately diverting an Alexander Rossipal cross from close to the byline into his own net from a few yards out to reduce the deficit to 2-1 (78’).

Felipe Sanchez then came on for Ron Schallenberg (81’). Schalke pushed to restore their two-goal cushion, but Moussa Sylla couldn’t get the ball under control in front of Tim Schreiber after a pass from Adil Aouchiche (86’). Dynamo then had their turn again and made a corner from the right count as they drew level (87’). Thomas Keller got the final touch with a header inside the six-yard box.

After the eventful closing stages, eight minutes were added on, with Schalke throwing everything forward once more. However, Dynamo keeper Tim Schreiber claimed two Schalke crosses at the far post with authority (90+2’, 90+4’). An injury to Julian Pauli also led to a lengthy stoppage. When play resumed, Timo Becker’s shot looked dangerous, but Julian Pauli got a vital block in (90+7’). Moments later, referee Tobias Welz blew for full time.

Kiel away

Schalke’s next game is away against Holstein Kiel. The Storks will host the Royal Blues on Sunday (15/2) at 13:30 CET.