Narrow defeat in Cologne

Four changes to the starting XI – Barkok included in matchday squad for the first time

Head coach Kees van Wonderen made four changes to his starting line-up ahead of the meeting in Cologne. Paul Segiun was unavailable due to a yellow-card suspension, while Taylan Bulut missed out due to illness. Moussa Sylla had suffered a muscle strain during training on Friday and will be out of action for the foreseeable future. Tomas Kalas, Janik Bachmann and Pape Meïssa Ba all started in their place, while Derry John Murkin came in for Anton Donko, who was named to the bench.

Ba was able to make his first start for the Royal Blues, while Bachmann was included in the starting line-up for the first time in 2025. Aymen Barkok, who joined the Royal Blues on deadline day, was named on the bench for the first time. Amin Younes was also included in a matchday squad for the first time since the 4-2 win in Paderborn back on 6th December.

Kaminski goes close for S04 in the first half

The Royal Blues enjoyed more of the ball in the opening 15 minutes, but were unable to break down Köln’s compact backline. Kenan Karaman was able to pick out Ba with a well-timed pass in the 19th minute, but Effzeh goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe came out of his goal to secure the ball. As time progressed, the hosts were able to start exerting more dominance over the match but neither side were able to generate many dangerous chances on goal. The Royal Blues struggled to find good outlets for their passes, although Köln failed to take advantage of these errors.

Schalke’s best chance in the opening half came following a free kick from Tobias Mohr. His delivery was headed into the box by Karaman, where Marcin Kaaminski was able to get off a shot from close range. Schwäbe once again blocked the attempt as the ball headed out of play for a Schalke corner (32′). Köln were able to clear their lines with Linton Maina countering quickly, before being stripped of the ball after a high-risk tackle from goalkeeper Justin Heekeren at the half-way line (33′).

Downs opens the scoring

Dejan Ljubicic came close to putting Köln ahead shortly before the break, but was unable to get the ball out from his feet in time after a cross from Maina (38′). Shortly after, Heekeren was called upon to push a long-range attempt from Mathias Olesen away from danger (42′).

The hosts were able to open the scoring in the 43rd minute after a miscommunication at the back from the Royal Blues. Mehmet Can Aydin had attempted to chest down a cross from Gazibegovic in order for Heekeren to pick it up, but the ball was intercepted by Maina. The attacker laid it off for Damion Downs, who only needed to tap in from close range to put the Billy Goats 1-0 up late on in the first half.

Schwäbe denies Bachmann

Köln started well into the second half, with Maina having an attempt blocked first by Ron Schallenberg and then later by Kalas on the rebound (51′). Just two minutes later, Maina laid the ball off to Denis Huseinbasic, but he wasn’t able to connect fully with the ball, allowing Heekeren to make the save.

Schalke’s first good chance after the change of ends came in the 60th minute, as Mohr’s cross beat Joel Schmied at the near post. The defender’s missed attempt at a clearance allowed Bachmann to get on the end of the cross and he was able to turn it towards goal from close range, but once again, Schwäbe was there to make the save.

Karaman misses late on

Shortly after, van Wonderen made his first changes of the afternoon, bringing on Adrian Gantenbein, Ilyes Hamache and Aymen Barkok for Aydin, Bachmann and Ba. The introduction of fresh legs soon resulted in another opportunity for the Royal Blues, as Hamache was able to beat Neo Telle on the left wing. His cross evaded Schwäbe, but there were no Schalke players inside the box to take advantage of the situation (64′). Two minutes later, Kaminski delivered a free kick from 20 metres out that went straight into the wall. The rebound fell to Karaman, but his effort from outside the area sailed wide of the target.

Köln continued to look for opportunities to catch Schalke on the break in the minutes that followed. Schallenberg sent a header just over the bar from a corner in the 81st minute, while Effzeh’s Leart Pagarada just missed at the other end shortly after (82′).

The Royal Blues kept searching for ways to break through Köln’s backline in order to get back on level terms, but found it tough to create chances. Gantenbein attempted a shot from the edge of the box in the 89th minute that went just over the bar following a short corner. Schalke’s best opportunity of the game came late in injury time, as Antwi-Adjei got on the end of a pass down the left flank and was able to deliver a cross into the box. His delivery sailed through the box with Kalas managing to flick it on, but Karaman was just seconds too late to meet it at the back post. Shortly after, the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the match, as the Royal Blues had to return home empty-handed.

Back in action next Sunday

Next up, Schalke will host Karlsruher SC at the VELTINS-Arena on Sunday (16/2, 13:30 CET).