S04 defeat Ingolstadt 3-0

Flick replaces Wouters

Head coach Dimitrios Grammozis had to make one change from last week’s 2-0 win over Hansa Rostock. Dries Wouters picked up an ankle injury in training and was therefore replaced in the starting XI by Florian Flick in defensive midfield. As in previous weeks, the boss went with a 3-5-2 system.

Plenty of possession early on

The Royal Blues enjoyed more of the ball in the opening stages, while Die Schanzer looked to focus on remaining compact and playing on the break. Schalke’s play centered around Thomas Ouwejan down the left, who often tried to find Simon Terodde in the box, although Ingolstadt’s defenders were able to clear these balls early on.

Bülter scores from distance

FCI grew into the game more after a quarter of an hour. That being said though, Martin Fraisl in the Schalke goal wasn’t tested out at all. Instead, S04 took the lead with 25 minutes played. Via Mehmet Can Aydin and Rodrigo Zalazar, the ball came to Marius Bülter and he let fly from just over 20 yards out. His low drive nestled into the bottom corner for his third goal of the season.

Just three minutes later, Zalazar picked out Simon Terodde with a cross, but he couldn’t get enough behind his header under pressure. The remainder of the first half saw little action in the final third, with only Dominick Drexler (32’) and Ingolstadt’s Denis Linsmayer (44’) having notable shots, though neither came close to hitting the back of the net.

Unbelievable Aydin goal

Both teams initially struggled to create good chances in the second half, Schalke particularly were missing that final pass. Ingolstadt were getting into more dangerous positions, but Fraisl and his defence were always in the right place at the right time. Their most threatening moment was denied by Fraisl, who got down low to stop the ball reaching Dennis Eckert Ayensa (63’).

With 66 minutes on the watch, Mehmet Can Aydin then produced a moment of magic to put S04 2-0 up. He met Thomas Ouwejan’s corner with a stunning scissor kick on the volley in midair and thundered it underneath the crossbar and in! It was the right-back’s first senior goal – having registered his first assist just last week in Rostock!

Terodde equals the 2. Bundesliga goal record

After Filip Bilbija failed to head home Fatih Kaya’s accurate cross, Simon Terodde then wrote a piece of 2. Bundesliga history. Marius Bülter played a ball through to Dominick Drexler, and he unselfishly squared it to Terodde, who only had to convert into an empty net (77’). The 33-year-old therefore netted his 153rd second-tier goal to level Dieter Schatzschneider’s record.

With that goal, the result was settled and the points were staying in Gelsenkirchen. Nonetheless, Reinhold Ranftl (82’) and Marvin Pieringer (86’) both could have added further goals, although they both missed the target with their strikes. That meant it finished 3-0 to Schalke, who now sit fourth in the table after back-to-back wins.

Friendly in Lübeck, away at Hannover

During the upcoming international break, FC Schalke 04 will play Regionalliga Nord team VfB Lübeck on Thursday (7/10) at 18:00 CEST away from home.

The next league game is also on the road, away to Hannover 96 on Friday, 15th October at 18:30 CEST.