Caligiuri scores from distance – S04 fight back to win a point in Augsburg

Return for Steven Skrzybski

Head coach Domenico Tedesco made six changes to the team that defeated Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Salif Sané, Bastian Oczipka,  Daniel Caligiuri, Sebastian Rudy, Amine Harit und Steven Skrzybski replaced Matija Nastasic, Hamza Mendyl, Omar Mascarell, Alessandro Schöpf, Benjamin Goller und Yevhen Konoplyanka. Nastasic was banned after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend against Dortmund.

Fährmann unlucky, Gregoritsch heads home

The Royal Blues started the game poorly, as Augsburg controlled the opening exchanges. That being said, Amine Harit had the first chance with a long-range shot after six minutes. After that though, Augsburg had several chances. Michael Gregoritsch saw his header well saved by Ralf Fährmann in the eight minute, but would be more lucky five minutes later. Ralf Fährmann punched a Phillipp Max cross up in the air and Gregoritsch was on hand to head into the empty net for 1-0.

Schalke had seemingly equalised as Cedric Teuchert beat Augsburg keeper Andreas Luthe from close range, but was adjudged to have been in an offside position and the goal was ruled out after a quarter of an hour. Manuel Baum’s side continued to dominate proceedings, with Marco Richter and Ja-Cheol Koo both being denied by Fährmann. Salif Sané had the next Schalke chance, heading a Bastian Oczipka set-piece over the crossbar, despite Naldo being in a better position. The final minutes of the first half saw little noteworthy action, baring a Naldo free-kick which was comfortably blocked by the home side.

Caligiuri gets the equaliser

Domenico Tedesco made two changes at the break, bringing on Haji Wright and Nabil Bentaleb for Sebastian Rudy and Steven Skrzybski. The hosts had the first chance in the second period, but Fährmann was on hand to deny another Gregoritsch header a minute into the second half.

Six minutes later though, the Knappen found the equaliser. After Augsburg cleared some play from Bastian Oczipka and Amine Harit, Nabil Bentaleb put a cross in, which was headed away by Cauiby. The ball then fell to Daniel Caligiuri, who let fly from 25 yards out, beating Luthe and leveling things.

Wright's goal ruled out for offside

Despite the leveller, Augsburg came straight back through Michael Gregoritsch and Jonathan Schmid who both had good opportunities to score. In the last half hour, the Knappen played with more impetus going forward but lacked accuracy in front of goal. It seemed Haji Wright had given Schalke all three points in the 84th minute, only for the linesman’s flag to deny him his first Bundesliga goal as he got on the end of Nabil Bentaleb’s low cross. In the closing minutes, Schalke continued to search for a winner but were unable to find a way past Luthe in the Augsburg goal as he game ended all square.

Leverkusen game in commemoration of coal mines' farewell

The Knappen’s next Bundesliga game is just round the corner as Bayer Leverkusen head to the VELTINS-Arena. The game against the ‚Werkself‘ will centre on saying goodbye to the coal mines which Schalke 04 is based upon and kicks off at 18:30 CET.