3-0 defeat in Karlsruhe

Seven changes to the starting XI

Head coach Karel Geraerts made seven changes to the starting line-up on what was his touchline debut for the Royal Blues in the 2. Bundesliga. His side lined up in a 3-5-2, with Ralf Fährmann making his first appearance of the season between the sticks after recovering from an Achilles tendon issue. Justin Heekeren dropped to the bench in his stead.

Tomas Kalas, Paul Seguin, Assan Ouédraogo, Bryan Lasme, Simon Terodde and Yusuf Kabadayi also moved into the starting XI, in place of Henning Matriciani, Ron Schallenberg, Dominick Drexler, Derry John Murkin, Sebastian Polter (all on the bench) and Kenan Karaman (serving a red-card suspension).

Stindl and Matanovic put KSC ahead

The hosts got off to a better start and quickly recorded their first chance on goal. Jerome Gondorf was able to get on the end of a corner and get off a shot, but it went wide of the target. KSC continued to dominate the flow of the game, with the next opportunity falling to Marvin Wanitzek. The attacking midfielder combined with Gondorf to find space for a shot from 12 metres out, but it was blocked (17’).

Two minutes later, Paul Nebel attempted to find the target with a shot from a tight angle just inside the box, hitting the far post instead. The hosts were then able to take the lead in the 22nd minute, as Fabian Schleusener’s cross found Igor Matanavi. He then laid it off to Lars Stindl, who slotted home from inside the box to open the scoring.

KSC continued to attack, with Nebel sending a ball into the box after a short corner. After taking a slight deflection, his cross ended up crashing off the bar (29’). After a good phase of play from Schalke, Lasme got on the end of a well-timed pass from Timo Baumgartl and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, he wasn’t able to keep his effort on target, sending it over the bar (35’).

The hosts responded immediately, with Sebastian Jung finding Stindl in the box, who then played it out wide to Nebel. His cross found Matanovic, who buried a volley in the bottom left corner, out of reach for Fährmann (37’). Schleusener then went close in first-half injury time, flashing a shot just wide of the left post.

Matriciani own goal adds to KSC’s lead

Geraerts made three changes at the start of the second half, bringing on Henning Matriciani, Tobias Mohr and Soichiro Kozuki for Tomas Kalas, Thomas Ouwejan and Simon Terodde. The hosts remained unchanged and didn’t need long to record their first chance after the change of ends. Schleusener got on the end of a blocked cross but Fährmann was equal to his shot (48’).

Lasme then had another opportunity to get Schalke on the board, but was unable to keep hold of the ball after driving into the box with pace. Defender Robin Bormuth was then able to clear the ball away from any danger (55’). Shortly after, Schleusener tested Fährmann once again, but wasn’t able to beat him one-on-one from eight metres out. The Royal Blues then had two chances in quick succession, as KSC goalkeeper Patrick Drewes first denied Kozuki on the edge of the five-yard box, before Ouédraogo’s rebound was successfully blockd by Bormuth (62’).

Schalke gained confidence from these two near-misses, seeking to carve out more opportunities to attack. The hosts had begun to sit back further on the pitch, but still managed to create chances for themselves. The Royal Blues were dealt another blow in the 74th minute after an unfortunate own goal from Matriciani. The defender attempted to intercept a cross bound for Budu Zivzivadve, but ended up turning it into his own net.

Mohr came close to scoring a consolation goal for S04 in the final ten minutes, but Drewes was able to get down and push it wide. The rebound fell to Kozuki, but he was unable to redirect it on target. In the end, Schalke fell to a 3-0 defeat in Karlsruhe and returned home empty-handed.

At home against Hannover

Next up, the Royal Blues will host Hannover 96 at the VELTINS-Arena on Saturday (28/10). Kick-off is set for 13:00 CET.