Goalless draw away against Hertha BSC

Three changes to the starting XI

Head coach Miron Muslic decided to make three changes to the team that lost 2-1 at Eintracht Braunschweig in the final game of 2025. Mertcan Ayhan was replaced in the back three by Timo Becker, while Mika Wallentowitz was preferred to Finn Porath on the right. The other alteration saw Amin Younes come in for Christian Gomis. 18-year-old Australian Dylan Leonard, now eligible for competitive football, made the squad for the first time. Zaid Tchibara joined him on the bench, marking his return from ten months out with a torn ACL.

Goalless first half

More than 20,000 Schalke supporters once again travelled to the capital for the away game this season. However, the organised fan groups suspended their vocal backing in solidarity with the home fans after a police operation had taken place in the home end before kick-off. On the pitch, by contrast, things were lively straight away. An early cross from Vitalie Becker was cleared by Hertha’s Marten Winkler at the edge of the six-yard box (3’). The hosts then took control: Paul Seguin’s corner was punched clear by Loris Karius (5’), before Schalke’s goalkeeper denied Winkler, who picked up the ball on the left after a turnover and broke into the penalty area (7’). Just 60 seconds later, a spinning effort from Michael Cuisance inside the box flew only just over the bar (8’).

After those opening minutes, Schalke gradually worked their way into the game, enjoying more possession and looking to push forward. Nikola Katic’s header drifted well wide (11’), as did Amin Younes’ free-kick delivery towards the far post (19’). As the half wore on, it became clear that the league’s two strongest defences were facing off. Luca Schuler sent a header from Deyovaisio Zeefuik’s cross well off target (24’), while Marten Winkler’s delivery was dealt with confidently by Schalke’s back three (30’).

Play was then briefly halted when Hertha’s Maurice Krattenmacher picked up a thigh injury. Jeremy Dudziak replaced him (35’), shortly after Luca Schuler had been shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Nikola Katic (34’). Schalke had another spell going forward soon after, but Vitalie Becker’s low ball into the area was cleared, falling to Mika Wallentowitz, who was unable to get enough power on his effort (36’). At the other end, Winkler broke into the Schalke box once more, but was again thwarted by Loris Karius (39’). Kennet Eichhorn brought down Vitalie Becker on the counter and went into the book (45+1’), while Schalke’s well-drilled offside trap caught Michael Cuisance. That was as much as the first half – including three minutes of stoppage time – had to offer.

Hosts’ pressure fails to pay off

After the restart, head coach Miron Muslic made a change on the right, bringing on Adrian Gantenbein for Mika Wallentowitz. Following two early Schalke free-kicks into the Hertha box, the hosts began to assert themselves again. Luca Schuler broke through and Loris Karius swept up outside the area – though the flag was already up for offside (51’). Schalke then tried to break at pace themselves, but Deyovaisio Zeefuik halted Vitalie Becker down the left flank (52’).

Just past the hour mark, Hertha stepped up the pressure once more. A cross into the box was met by Luca Schuler’s header, but Karius held on comfortably (59’), before securing the ball again a minute later under pressure from the same forward (60’). Soon after, Michael Cuisance found space on the right side of the area and tested the Schalke goalkeeper, who denied the low effort with his foot (62’).

Miron Muslic responded by introducing fresh attacking legs, sending on Christian Gomis for Amin Younes (62’). The next chance, however, again fell to the hosts. Schuler broke through centrally and was crowded out by Hasan Kuruçay, Ron Schallenberg and Nikola Katic before Loris Karius gathered the ball (63’). Another Schalke counter involving Vitalie Becker was stopped by Deyovaisio Zeefuik (66’), while at the other end Luca Schuler struck the outside of the right post when he got in behind on the break (67’).

The final quarter of an hour remained fiercely contested. Linus Gechter and Hasan Kuruçay were both shown yellow cards following a tussle ahead of a Schalke corner (72’). Jeremy Dudziak then tried his luck from 20 yards out, central, but Loris Karius punched the ball away to safety (75’). Hertha made a double change soon after, with Fabian Reese and Dawid Kownacki replacing Marten Winkler and Luca Schuler, while for Schalke Mertcan Ayhan came on to shore up the back line in place of Timo Becker (75’).

Once again, it was Karius who took centre stage. He raced out to clear ahead of Michael Cuisance despite Schalke’s back line having dropped deep (77’), before claiming a cross from Dawid Kownacki intended for Fabian Reese (79’). Adrian Gantenbein, introduced at half-time, was then forced off due to injury, with Finn Porath taking over for the closing stages (83’).

In the final minutes, the hosts pushed hard for a breakthrough, but Schalke’s defence remained compact. Deyovaisio Zeefuik tried his luck from distance following a corner, yet Loris Karius was once again equal to it (86’). Michael Cuisance and Soufiane El-Faouzi were both booked after a brief exchange of words following a foul by the Schalke midfielder (88’). In four minutes of stoppage time, Linus Gechter had one last header from a free-kick, but Loris Karius was on hand to save it, before referee Wolfgang Haslberger brought the contest to a close.

Home game against the Red Devils

FC Schalke 04 are back in action next Sunday (25/1) at home against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The Red Devils visit the VELTINS-Arena for a 13:30 CET kick-off. Their first game of 2026 is on Sunday against Hannover 96 and they started the new year in sixth place. S04 lost the reverse fixture 1-0.