Gonzalez cancels out Thiaw’s maiden Bundesliga goal – 1-1 vs. Stuttgart

Uth makes the starting XI

Manuel Baum made two changes to the side from last week’s Revierderby. Mark Uth returned from injury to start, with Can Bozdogan also coming into the team. They replaced Rabbi Matondo and Nabil Bentaleb.

Intensive start from both teams

The guests looked to press Schalke high up the pitch and had the first chance of the game after 04 minutes. Gonzalo Castro played it to Mateo Klimowicz, who hit his shot early and just missed the far post. Two minutes later, Goncalo Paciencia went down in the box after being held by Pascal Stenzel, however referee Benjamin Brand felt it wasn’t enough for a penalty.

Schalke had their first shots after just more than 15 minutes played. Salif Sané gave it to Amine Harit, who fed Bozdogan. The youngster hit a long-range shot over the bar (18’). Shortly after, Uth’s distance strike just cleared the crossbar (20’). The visitors also continued to threaten though. Pascal Stenzel tested out Frederik Rönnow from 20 yards out, but the Dane was equal to it, tipping the shot over the bar (25’).

Thiaw scores first Bundesliga goal

After half an hour, Schalke fans had reason to celebrate. Mark Uth was brought down by Marc Oliver Kempf, and Harit delivered the ball towards the far post from the resulting free kick. Malick Thiaw met it with a diving header after losing his man and found the back of the net to put Schalke ahead with the first Bundesliga goal of his career.

Stuttgart had a pair of half chances after falling behind, through Borna Sosa who was denied by Rönnow (36’) and Tanguy Coulibaly, who saw his effort blocked by Sané (44’). Towards the end of the half, Schalke had a chance on the counter attack but Paciencia was called offside upon receiving Uth’s pass (45’) and the Royal Blues went into half time with a 1-0 lead.

VAR intervenes – Gonzalez scores from the spot

The second half began badly for the Royal Blues. VfB came out of the blocks quickly and levelled things in the 56th minute. Nicolas Gonzalez headed a Castro free-kick towards goal and the ball struck Sané’s hand. VAR intervened and got referee Brand to check the possible handball claim again, with Brand eventually pointing to the spot. Gonzalez slotted the resulting spot kick into the bottom right corner, sending Rönnow the wrong way.

Stuttgart were now the better side after equalising and could have made it 2-1. Mark Uth cleared the ball off the line after Coulibaly had headed the ball across the six-yard box (61’). Rönnow kept out a Sosa shot (67’), before Gonzalez headed wide from a Sosa cross two minutes later.

Final chance after free kick in added time

S04 put in a strong defensive effort but found it difficult to create goalscoring opportunities at the other end of the pitch in the second half, failing to find the final pass in the attacking third. In the 82nd minute, Uth delivered a free kick to the far post which was again met by Thiaw, but goalkeeper Kobel was equal to it. At the other end of the pitch, Rönnow produced a fine stop from a Castro effort from outside the area (86’).

In added time, Harit delivered a ball into the box from a free kick, which Sané directed towards substitute Benito Raman. The Belgian couldn’t make proper contact and Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo sent the ball towards his own goal, but the away team were able to clear. With no more chances at either end, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Mainz up next

S04’s next Bundesliga game is on Saturday (7/11, 15:30 CET) away to 1. FSV Mainz 05.