Alexander Nübel: This is also part of our development

Just before half time, Union had made life difficult for Schalke. “We weren’t really settled in properly in the first half. We didn’t manage to get into dangerous areas. Apart from Benito’s goal, we didn’t have much success at all,” Nübel reflected. The Belgian’s goal, a volley from the edge of the penalty area, was something special. “It’s awesome that he has technique like that,” raves Nübel.

For a short time, however, the goalkeeper was annoyed after referee Daniel Schlager pointed to the spot after Robert Andrich went down in the area after an apparent challenge from Matija Nastasic.

“It must have been a crystal-clear penalty for the officials,” explained Nübel. “I asked the referee. He said that the incident was being checked and he was in contact with the VAR assistant. It was a shame he didn’t look at the situation onscreen. We all would have liked to see that 30 seconds.”

It’s fortunate that this decision did not prove crucial in the end, explains Nübel. In the closing stages, Suat Serdar scored and ensured a home win. “At the end of the day we deserved those three points. Union really didn’t threaten our goal in the second half,” said the keeper, adding, “we played with greater maturity than we did against Köln and Düsseldorf and did not concede the late equaliser. This is also a part of our development.”