Two goals from Karaman secure 2-0 win in Magdeburg

Kuruçay returns to the starting XI

Head coach Miron Muslic made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 at home to Holstein Kiel last time out. Hasan Kuruçay returned at the back after missing the Kiel defeat due to an illness he picked up during the international break. The 28-year-old replaced Felipe Sanchez in defence. The other alteration saw Finn Porath drop out for Adrian Gantenbein on the right flank.

Karaman gives Schalke an early lead

The travelling Schalke fans were able to celebrate an early lead at a warm Avnet Arena on Saturday afternoon. The move started as Loris Karius headed a long ball towards the touchline, from which Vitalie Becker played it down the wing to Moussa Sylla. He drove into the box and passed to Soufiane El-Faouzi, who then set it up for Kenan Karaman on the edge. The S04 captain placed a perfect finish into the bottom corner to open the scoring (10’).

The hosts were clearly affected by the early blow and Schalke were able to control the first 20 minutes, knocking the ball about nicely and keeping things tight at the back. Aside from Karaman’s goal, the only other opportunity for either side early on came in the 21st minute. Baris Atik headed wide from a corner for the hosts.

As Magdeburg started to grow into the game and have more control, Schalke focused on having a solid defence and counter-attacks. Adrian Gantenbein was able to initiate one after winning the ball back down the right wing, with the ball eventually coming to Kenan Karaman, whose cross into the middle didn’t find anyone (29’). A minute later, Moussa Sylla regained possession in the centre circle and gave it to Christian Gomis. His shot flew well wide.

While Magdeburg’s period of pressure came to an end after around 30 minutes, their best chance of the first half arrived soon after. The Schalke defence failed to properly clear the ball and the home team’s Alexander Nollenberger then looked to pick out the far corner with his strike, only for Loris Karius to get a strong hand on it and tip it over the bar (34’). At the other end, a long ball from the S04 goalkeeper was misjudged by defender Marcus Mathisen and Moussa Sylla nipped in to get a shot off from the edge of the box. He couldn’t keep his balance and the shot flew over the bar as a result (35’).

Schalke next threatened in the 37th minute from a long throw. Ron Schallenberg reacted to the loose ball and stabbed it over the bar from close range (37’). Magdeburg should really have drawn level a minute later: Lubambo Musonda did well down the left and put an inviting ball across the six-yard box, but Alexander Ahl Holmström failed to turn it home into an empty net at the back post (38’). The final noteworthy moment of the half came when captain Karaman couldn’t properly connect with an Adrian Gantenbein cross in the only minute of injury time.

Karaman converts penalty after foul on Schallenberg

The home team had the ball in the back of the net just 32 seconds into the second half, however the flag quickly went up for offside to rule out Alexander Nollenberger’s goal. VAR then confirmed the Magdeburg man was in an offside position when the cross came in.

Despite FCM’s increased efforts to get men forward and equalise, Schalke remained compact at the back and often looked to quickly get the ball forward. Jean Hugonet was able to clear a through ball for a corner before it reached Kenan Karaman, though the danger wasn’t dealt with yet. From Soufiane El-Faouzi’s delivery, Ron Schallenberg went to head the ball at the near post, only to be kicked in the head by Rayan Ghrieb. While S04’s number 6 received treatment and a bandage, VAR advised referee Felix Bickel to watch back the incident. He then recognised the obvious foul and pointed to the spot. Kenan Karaman stepped up and buried it to make it 2-0 (56’).

The second half also began badly for FCM, who once again looked for a response. Yet just as in the hour before, Schalke gave little away at the back and remained a constant threat to the hosts with their quick transitions. After a strong sprint down the right, Adrian Gantenbein squared the ball into the box, only for Christian Gomis to miss it by inches (64’). At the other end, Nikola Katic was booked for a foul in a central position (65’), but Hasan Kuruçay headed the resulting free kick clear from the wall.

Baris Atik was the main spark in Magdeburg’s attack, repeatedly driving forward and looking for a way through, but time and again he was stopped. Schalke calmly dealt with his free-kick delivery (73’), as well as a dangerous cross from the right two minutes later (75’). The changes from either side didn’t disrupt Schalke’s stability: Janik Bachmann replaced Gomis after 72 minutes, before head coach Miron Muslic made a triple substitution, bringing on Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Bryan Lasme and Finn Porath for Ron Schallenberg, Gantenbein and Moussa Sylla (80’).

Schalke continued to defend intelligently and confidently in the closing stages. Right at the end of normal time things got tense once more when Loris Karius headed clear outside his box and Maximilian Breunig’s first-time strike landed on the roof of the Schalke net (90’). In ten minutes of added time, the hosts threw everything forward in desperation, but aside from another Atik free kick calmly dealt with by Karius (90’+9), they never managed to create a clear chance.

Fürth at home

Schalke’s next game is on Friday night (26/9) at 18:30 CEST against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. They won last night 3-1 at promoted side Arminia Bielefeld, their third victory across the opening six matchdays.