Points shared as Schalke draw 0-0 at 1. FC Köln

Hwang makes first start as Ndiaye earns maiden senior squad call-up

Head coach Miron Muslic was forced to make several changes to his squad following last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to 1. FSV Mainz 05. Moussa Sylla remained unavailable, while Ron Schallenberg (leg injury), captain Kenan Karaman (muscular problems), Maximilian Wöber (thigh injury) and Adrian Gantenbein (injury sustained in Friday’s final training session) were also ruled out. Bryan Lasme, Finn Porath and U23 striker Jean-Paul Ndiaye were brought into the matchday squad.

There were three changes to the starting XI. Junior Adamu and Junior Dina Ebimbe came in for Adrian Gantenbein and Kenan Karaman, while Hee-chan Hwang made his first start for Schalke in place of Edin Džeko, who began the game on the bench.

A fast-paced opening on the Rhine

The Royal Blues began the day with their courage and commitment on full display. Within the opening few minutes, Robin Gosens drove into the penalty area down the left and picked out Adil Aouchiche. Köln managed to clear the ball, but Soufiane El-Faouzi’s miscued attempt almost found its way into the net, flashing just wide of the left post (5’). A minute later, El-Faouzi launched a counter-attack down the right following Köln’s first corner of the afternoon, but his cross failed to find a teammate.

The hosts soon settled into the game, although Schalke themselves were responsible for the first real scare at their own end. Hasan Kuruçay attempted to clear a cross from the left in front of goalkeeper Loris Karius, but his miscued clearance flew narrowly wide of the Schalke goal (12’). The game continued to open up after that. Schalke won possession high up the pitch, allowing Junior Adamu to drive into the box from the right, only for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to make a last-ditch challenge and deny him a shot (15’). Nikola Katic then headed the resulting corner wide of the far post (16’).

The Royal Blues had another scare when Karius saved a Köln effort and former Schalke player Marius Bülter followed up, poking the ball through to Isak Johanesson, who found the net. However, the Köln forward was clearly offside and the goal was ruled out (17’). Karius was called into action again a minute later, and Said El Mala then fired a first-time effort narrowly wide of the far post (18’). Schalke continued to threaten at the other end. From 18 yards out, Adil Aouchiche sent a shot wide of the left upright (20’), before Soufiane El-Faouzi ran onto a clever through ball from Junior Adamu and pulled his effort across goal and beyond the right post (22’).

Gosens and El-Faouzi forced off after collision

The spells of sustained pressure began to ease, but the contest remained intense and fiercely contested. Köln enjoyed more possession, while Schalke had registered more shots and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Said El Mala controlled a long ball near the right-hand corner of the penalty area and shot first time, but his effort missed the target by some distance (32’). Junior Adamu required treatment following a collision with Tom Krauß but was able to continue (34’). A more serious incident followed when Robin Gosens and Soufiane El-Faouzi collided in the air (38’). After several minutes of treatment on the pitch, both players were unable to continue. Janik Bachmann and Vitalie Becker came on in their place (43’). Both players were taken to the Knappschaft Kliniken Buer partner hospital for further examinations.

The lengthy stoppage resulted in eight minutes of added time. Nikola Katic first blocked a Mikey Moore shot behind for a corner (45+1’). Schalke then broke quickly through Hee-chan Hwang, who was brought down by Tom Krauß near the halfway line. The Köln player was shown a yellow card for the foul (45+2’). Just before the break, Linton Maina broke down the left for the hosts and picked out Said El Mala, who fired over the bar from close range (45+7’).

Quick transitions create openings

Schalke fashioned the first opportunity of the second half, too. Adil Aouchiche delivered a cross from the left, which Junior Adamu flicked on with his head. Goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe cleared the ball into the six-yard box, where Nikola Katic narrowly failed to get the decisive touch ahead of his marker (46’). Shortly afterwards, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey intercepted Vitalie Becker’s cross before it could reach Hee-chan Hwang, who was waiting in the middle of the penalty area (49’). Junior Dina Ebimbe then fired over the bar from 25 yards out (49’).

Köln responded with an effort of their own after the break, as Said El Mala tried his luck from distance but sent the ball wide of the far post (50’). Just after the hour mark, Nikola Katic blocked a speculative effort from Mikey Moore behind for a corner. Marius Bülter then tested Karius from distance, but the Schalke goalkeeper gathered the ball comfortably (65’).

The Royal Blues continued to look for quick opportunities on the counter. Vitalie Becker produced an excellent individual run down the left, beating two Köln players before his dangerous low cross was turned behind for a corner (68’). Soon afterwards, Hee-chan Hwang drove into the penalty area from the right and laid the ball off to Adil Aouchiche, who cleverly backheeled it into the path of Junior Dina Ebimbe. His promising effort was blocked at the last moment and diverted behind for another corner (70’). A minute later, the Schalke player was booked following an exchange with Said El Mala (71’).

The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock as the game entered its closing stages. A long ball found Marius Bülter, who was denied by the advancing Karius. Luca Waldschmidt followed up, but Timo Becker got in the way of his shot (74’). Schalke came even closer at the other end. Janik Bachmann picked out Satoshi Tanaka near the byline, and the Japanese midfielder beat two Köln defenders before striking the near post with his effort (79’).

Vitalie Becker was booked after putting a second ball back into play (83’). Hasan Kuruçay also received a yellow card in the closing stages for standing in front of Köln goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe as he prepared to take a goal kick (89’).

The tempo remained high right through to the final whistle. Karius dealt confidently with Köln’s crosses, while Schalke continued to look for counter-attacking opportunities by moving the ball forward quickly after regaining possession. The Köln defence dealt with further deliveries from Janik Bachmann and Adil Aouchiche, and the two minutes of added time produced no further attempts on goal.

DFB-Pokal trip to Dresden up next

The Royal Blues face a busy week, with a DFB-Pokal second-round tie away to second-division side Dynamo Dresden coming up on Wednesday (28/10), kicking off at 18:00 CET. Dresden booked their place in the second round with a 6-0 win away to Regionalliga side Westfalia Rhynern in the opening round.

Schalke then return home to the VELTINS-Arena on Saturday (31/10), as RB Leipzig make the trip to Gelsenkirchen.