Schalke defeat Paderborn 2-0 at home

Four changes

Dimitrios Grammozis made four changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Fortuna Düsseldorf last time out. Darko Churlinov started at right-wing back in the usual 3-5-2 formation, where Marius Bülter had began in Düsseldorf. Bülter moved up front to partner Simon Terodde, with Marvin Pieringer dropping to the bench.

Salif Sané was preferred to Malick Thiaw in the back-three. Additionally, Yaroslav Mikhailov and Florian Flick took Rodrigo Zalazar and Victor Pálsson’s places in the side, the latter missing out completely with a thigh problem.

Bülter heads in an Ouwejan free-kick

The 10,000 fans at the VELTINS-Arena saw both teams looking to press each other early on, though most of the early play took place in the middle of the park. The first notable moments were both shots by Paderborn. Ex-Schalker Jonas Carls missed the target on his left from just outside the box (16’), then Julian Justvan’s shot caused Martin Fraisl no real problems.

At the other end, Schalke went ahead with their first real chance of the evening. Marius Bülter headed in a Thomas Ouwejan free-kick at the front post to make it 1-0, leaving Paderborn goalkeeper Jannik Huth with no chance (22’)!

Having taken the lead, the Royal Blues put more pressure on and controlled the game more as the first half grew on. Darko Churlinov was often dangerous down the right-hand side with his pace, although the North Macedonian couldn’t quite produce the goods in the final third.

The visitors struggled offensively for large parts of the first half, only having another dangerous shot right at the end of the first period. Robin Yalcin curled one just past the post with a nice effort. The final opportunity before the break belonged to S04. Yaroslav Mikhailov’s cross found Terodde in the box, who turned his man to get a shot away. That, however, was blocked by Uwe Hünemeier for a corner that eventually led to nothing (45’).

S04 hit the post twice, SCP once

Darko Churlinov had the first chance of the second half, missing the goal in the 50th minute with a low shot. Thomas Ouwejan was also unsuccessful with a weak effort that went straight at Jannik Huth (51’). Schalke came close to a second after 57 minutes – Simon Terodde’s lobbed ball to the back post found Marius Bülter, who headed onto the roof of the net. For Paderborn, Philipp Klement fired just over from distance (56’).

The action picked up quickly in Gelsenkirchen with both sides almost finding the net in the space of a few minutes. A great delivery into the box by Ouwejan found Darko Churlinov at the back post, but he could only hit the outside of the post from a great position (61’). Almost immediately afterwards, Dennis Srbeny almost equalised. His powerful left-footed strike was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Martin Fraisl in the Schalke goal.

The woodwork was involved again in the next attack. Simon Terodde’s header hit the post via a Huth hand and the ball subsequently rolled across the line before Philipp Klement was able to clear it. The Knappen finally got their desired second goal in the 74th minute. Florian Flick played a clever ball through to Darko Churlinov, and S04’s number 7 slotted it past Huth into the far corner after running on to it.

Despite now being two goals behind, Paderborn didn’t give up. Martin Fraisl had to tip Kai Pröger’s looping effort over the bar in the 77th minute. The last chance of the game was again for Pröger, though Fraisl wasn’t needed this time with the shot hitting the side-netting.

Away game at KSC

Schalke’s next match is away at Karlsruher SC on Saturday (26/2) at 13:30 CET. Dimitrios Grammozis’ side will be hoping to not only avenge the 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture, but will also be looking for important points in their ongoing promotion battle.