Schalke fall to 3-1 defeat against Köln

Schallenberg back after suspension

Head coach Karel Geraerts made two changes to the side that started in the 2-2 draw against 1. FC Magdeburg. Adrian Gantenbein replaced Mehmet Can Aydin at right-back, while Ron Schallenberg came back into the XI after serving a suspension. Centre-back Felipe Sanchez dropped to the bench.

Clinical Köln make most of first-half chances

The clash between two of Germany’s most historic sides got off to a frantic start. Goalkeeper Justin Heekeren helped the Royal Blues break away quickly, and Tobias Mohr latched onto a long ball forward on the left wing. S04’s number 29 drove towards the box, where he cut inside and got a shot off. Köln keeper Jonas Urbig was equal to his effort, however (3’). Mohr had the ball again a minute later and whipped a cross into the box, but Moussa Sylla could not quite bring it under control (4’).

Then, it was Köln’s turn to ask questions of the Royal Blues’ defence. Kenan Karaman lost possession near his own penalty area and the ball fell to Damian Downs, whose shot was saved by Heekeren (7’). The Royal Blues continued to look that bit more threatening, however, as Ilyes Hamache danced his way through the away side’s midfield. The winger then found Karaman with a pass, but S04’s captain was also denied by Urbig (17’).

Despite Schalke appearing to be on top in the opening stages, it would be the visitors to open scoring. Eric Martel had a free header in the 21st minute but it was straight at Heekeren – Downs didn’t give S04’s man between the sticks a chance four minutes later, though, as he poked home from Linton Maina’s cross to put the Billy Goats in front (25’).

The home side strove to hit back immediately. Hamache’s cross found Mohr at the back post, but the midfielder’s volley was off target (29’). Karaman had a shot shortly afterwards that was blocked by a couple of FC defenders in the box, but the referee waved away the hosts’ claims of a handball amidst the chaos (33’). At the other end of the pitch, Köln also looked threatening. Maina connected with a cross into the six-yard box and his effort was inches away from doubling the visitors’ advantage (35’).

Schalke were hit with a second sucker punch as the first half entered stoppage time. Downs and Maina combined well on the counter and found space down the right-hand side. The former squared the ball to the latter and Heekeren almost did enough to throw FC’s number 37 off his stride, but Maina was able to squeeze past the keeper and slotted the ball into an empty net to give Köln a two-goal cushion going into the break (45+1).

Glimmer of hope after Karaman penalty

The Royal Blues had a nightmare start to the second 45 – it only took 30 seconds for Tim Lemperle to get on the end of Leart Paqarada’s cross and score Köln’s third. The striker appeared to be in an offside position, but the goal stood after a lengthy VAR check (46’). Karel Geraerts reacted by making some personnel changes – Christopher Atwi-Adjei came on for Hamache at half-time, while Mehmet Can Aydin and Amin Younes entered the fray in the 58th minute, replacing Adrian Gantenbein and Paul Seguin.

The Royal Blues’ skipper gave the home fans reason to believe just after the hour mark. Substitute Younes was fouled in the box by Denis Huseinbasic, and Karaman converted the resulting penalty to reduce the deficit to two (66’). The home end were jubilant again shortly afterwards. The home side broke away on the counter and Karaman saw a shot saved by Urbig, before Mohr poked the rebound home. The celebrations were cut short after a VAR check revealed that the goalscorer was marginally offside in the build-up (74’).

Schalke shook themselves off and continued to get forward, but the Köln defenders were able to clear the danger whenever the Royal Blues swung crosses into the box. Geraerts made S04’s final change of the game in the 85th minute, bringing Donkor on in place of Mohr for some fresh legs on the left wing. The Belgian’s side would create their final chance of the game down the right flank, however. Aydin’s cross found Sylla, but the Malian striker miscued his header and Urbig gathered the ball cleanly (87’). Schalke were unable to close the gap further in the nine minutes of added time, meaning they go into the international break on the back of a 3-1 loss.

Breda friendly before trip to Karlsruhe

The 2. Bundesliga comes to a halt next weekend as a result of the international break. Schalke’s next league fixture will be an away clash against Karlsruher SC on a Friday afternoon (13/9). The Royal Blues have scheduled a friendly against Eredivisie side NAC Breda at the Parkstadion this Wednesday (4/9) to stay sharp during the international break.