Schalke emerge victorious in top-of-the-table clash

No changes to starting XI

Head coach Miron Muslic opted to stick with the same starting XI that ran out as 4-1 winners over Preußen Münster last weekend. As per usual, S04 set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Four goals in first half

Both teams quickly made their intentions clear in the top-of-the-table clash. In the first few minutes, possession changed hands a number of times, and players from both sides flew into tackles. The first chance of the afternoon fell to the Royal Blues. After Soufiane El-Faouzi took a free-kick quickly, playing it to Dejan Ljubičić, the ball fell to Kenan Karaman who poked a pass through to Moussa Sylla in the penalty area. The striker’s shot from an acute angle was beaten away for a corner by Paderborn keeper Dennis Seimen (5’).

At the other end of the pitch, the hosts were more successful with their first attempt on goal. In the 13th minute, Mika Baur’s cross was met powerfully on the volley by Laurin Curda, with his effort from around 16 yards out flying into the bottom right corner. The wind was well and truly in Paderborn’s sails following the opener. In the 24th minute, Loris Karius was called into action and parried Stefan Marino’s drilled effort away from danger. Less than two minutes later, the striker ended up getting the better of S04’s shot-stopper. After an unmarked Filip Bilbija was initially denied by Karius following a cross from Müller, Stefan Marino slotted the rebound into the back of the net from ten yards out, making it 2-0 to SCP in the process.

It took a few minutes for the Royal Blues to muster a response, which eventually came through Dejan Ljubičić. The attacker was lingering in the box when Moussa Ndiaye whipped a ball in from the left wing. Ljubičić was able to meet the cross with a well-timed run, tapping the ball into the back of the net to halve the deficit (35’). Five minutes after that, Adil Aouchiche got the equaliser for S04. The Algerian international was instrumental in the build-up of his own goal through some nice link-up play with Moussa Sylla. Schalke’s number 9 was unable to beat Dennis Seimen at first but managed to lay the ball off in a promising area. In the resulting melee, Adil Aouchiche was quickest to react and produced a savvy, close-range finish to level the scoreline once more.

Shortly before the end of a rollercoaster first half, Schalke almost scored for a third time. Soufiane El-Faouzi’s shot from 16 yards out took a crucial deflection off Felix Götze, however, and went narrowly wide of the right post (43’).

Ljubičić with the winner

The big chances that characterised the opening 45 were not as present after the interval at the Home Deluxe Arena. Both teams took their foot off the gas for the most part and didn’t give many chances away to their opposition. Even still, Laurin Curda managed to flick a cross from Baur towards the far post in the 48th minute. Fortunately for S04, Timo Becker was in the right place at the right time to head the ball away from the danger zone, before his teammates were able to fully clear it away.

Schalke’s first opportunity of the second half fell to Moussa Sylla. The striker was sent through on goal by Timo Becker and got a powerful shot off that flew past Paderborn’s keeper, as well as the post. As the ball went out of play, the linesman raised his flag, indicating that a goal wouldn’t have counted anyway due to Sylla being offside in the build-up. Other than that chance, the action was primarily localised in the middle of the park.

Out of nowhere, the Royal Blues almost made it 3-2 in the 81st minute of the match. The ball landed at Dejan Ljubičić’s feet in the opposition penalty area, and the midfielder’s venomous effort was heading into the back of the net were it not for a last-gasp block from Tjark Scheller. Moussa Sylla latched onto the rebound but could only fire over the bar. After Calvin Brackelmann was unable to fully clear a cross, S04 retained possession. Ultimately, Dejan Ljubičić picked up the ball after a miscued clearance from Felix Götze and curled it into the bottom left corner to put Schalke ahead (83’).

At the other end of the pitch, Calvin Brackelmann was denied by an excellent save from Loris Karius after Baur’s corner. However, owing to an attacking foul, a goal would have been ruled out regardless. In the dying embers of the game, Paderborn went all in, which allowed Schalke to exploit gaps left in their defence. Substitute Vitalie Becker managed to get a shot off in added time, though his effort lacked the conviction and placement to trouble Dennis Seimen. When all was said and done, Schalke were not made to rue this missed opportunity, since referee Matthias Jöllenbeck brought the game to a close shortly afterwards.

Evening game at the VELTINS-Arena

At 20:30 CEST next Saturday (2/5), Schalke will host Fortuna Düsseldorf in Gelsenkirchen for the prime-time fixture of matchday 32. The clash at the VELTINS-Arena has been sold out for weeks.