1-0 win over Düsseldorf seals promotion to the Bundesliga!

Another unchanged XI – Edin Džeko back in the squad

Head coach Miron Muslic named the same starting XI for the third successive game. There was just one change to the squad that won 3-2 in Paderborn last time out, with Edin Džeko returning from his shoulder injury to replace Max Grüger on the bench. It was the first time Džeko had been named in a matchday squad since the start of March.

Karaman strikes after El-Faouzi wins the ball

Roared on by tens of thousands of loud Schalke fans, the Royal Blues started on the front foot. Florian Kastenmeier got down quickly to keep out Adil Aouchiche’s deflected low effort in the fifth minute, before Moussa Sylla had a shot two minutes later, only for Patrick Ittrich and the officials to flag for offside in the build-up.

Schalke opened the scoring after 15 minutes thanks to their captain. Soufiane El-Faouzi cut out Tim Oberdorf’s pass in midfield before finding Adil Aouchiche down the left. His ball into the middle was diverted by Oberdorf into the path of Kenan Karaman, who took aim inside the box and fired high into the top corner. S04 went straight back on the attack after taking the lead: Moussa Sylla’s shot went over the bar (18’), before Adil Aouchiche curled a free-kick from around 20 yards out against the outside of the post (19’).

Düsseldorf threaten just once – Aouchiche’s shot rolls wide

The visitors had their first half-chance in the 21st minute, but Cedric Itten’s header from Christopher Lenz’s cross was comfortable for Loris Karius. Schalke stayed brave and defended as a unit, although Düsseldorf did manage to keep the Royal Blues a little further away from their own goal after that.

Dejan Ljubičić then picked out Adil Aouchiche in space on the right after 35 minutes, but his low shot from a tight angle and more than 20 yards out rolled wide of the left-hand post. There were no further chances at either end, meaning Schalke took a 1-0 lead into half time.

Karius makes crucial save from Appelkamp – Karaman denied by Kastenmeier

Neither side made any changes at the break. Shortly after the restart, Schalke had a scare when Hasan Kuruçay went down injured after a challenge with Cedric Itten as they battled for the ball, but the centre-back was able to continue after receiving treatment (47’).

Timo Becker tried his luck from a corner in the 55th minute, getting a shot away with his back to goal, but the ball flew wide of the post. At the other end, Loris Karius produced a strong save to deny Tim Oberdorf. The Düsseldorf defender had got his shot away following a free-kick routine on the right, although the flag went up for offside (56’). Three minutes later, Schalke’s number one was called into action again and came out on top against Shinta Appelkamp, who had been played clean through on goal.

The game opened up noticeably during this spell. Schalke broke quickly, with Soufiane El-Faouzi carrying the ball through midfield before finding Kenan Karaman on the left. The forward went for goal from a tight angle, only for Florian Kastenmeier to make the save (62’). Shortly afterwards, Moussa Sylla kept hold of the ball while on the ground and laid it off to Dejan Ljubičić on the right, but he couldn’t get enough power behind his effort (65’).

Džeko comes on as S04 keep clean sheet and seal promotion

Edin Džeko made his comeback in the 69th minute, with the striker replacing Dejan Ljubičić as Moussa Sylla moved out to the right. Fortuna carried more attacking threat after the break than they had in the first half and did create chances of their own. Luca Raimund was played in down the right, before curling an effort wide of the post (69’).

Hasan Kuruçay was unable to continue with ten minutes of normal time remaining, so Felipe Sanchez came on in his place. Adrian Gantenbein was also introduced for Moussa Sylla. Schalke were increasingly focused on seeing out their narrow lead. In the 89th minute, Kenan Karaman had the chance to put the game to bed after a counter-attack led by Adil Aouchiche, only for Florian Kastenmeier to tip his low shot towards the bottom corner around the post.

In just over six minutes of stoppage time, Kilian Sauck curled an effort from the left edge of the box wide of the far post (90’+6). Soufiane El-Faouzi was then denied by Florian Kastenmeier at the other end (90’+7), although it no longer mattered. Seconds later, Patrick Ittrich blew the final whistle – and S04 were confirmed as the first team promoted to the Bundesliga!

Nürnberg away also on a Saturday night

The Royal Blues play away against 1. FC Nürnberg on matchday 33. Their final away game of the season will also be played on a Saturday evening (9/5) at 20:30 CEST.