Caligiuri’s wonder goal makes the difference in Mainz

Burgstaller returns to starting XI

Domenico Tedesco made four changes to the side that won 1-0 versus Hertha BSC on Saturday. Max Meyer, Bastian Oczipka, Benjamin Stambouli and Breel Embolo made way for Alessandro Schöpf, Weston McKennie, Thilo Kehrer and a returning Guido Burgstaller.

A drab first half

The game took a while to get going with both sides failing to get a foothold in the game. The game was full of hard-fought 50/50s and aerial duels but had little to show for itself in terms of quality on the ball. Neither side really troubled the other’s goalkeeper with Daniel Caligiuri going close on two occasions but was matched by Florian Müller in the hosts’ goal.

A moment of magic in the 55th minute

Mainz started the second half brightly and put Schalke under serious pressure. However, from nowhere, Daniel Caligiuri produced a moment of brilliance. The midfielder received the ball on the left flank and went on a solo run, dribbling past a number of Mainz players before curling an effort from the edge of the penalty area into the Mainz goal.

The hosts immediately went on the hunt for an equaliser but the Royal Blues stood firm. Ralf Fährmann pulled off a spectacular stop six minutes from the end to prevent Levin Öztunali from making the scores level.

Third consecutive clean sheet

It wasn’t a beautiful game of football to watch but it was a big result for the Royal Blues and marked their third clean sheet in a row.

Schalke also are on their travels in matchday 27 as Domenico Tedesco’s side head to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday evening at 18:30 CET. Schalke’s next home game comes after the winter break when SC Freiburg come to town.