S04 beaten 4-0 in Freiburg

Schwolow, Uronen and Karaman start

There were three enforced changes to the side that started the recent 5-2 home win over Hertha BSC, with Ralf Fährmann, Credric Brunner and Tim Skarke sidelined through injury. The trio were replaced by Alexander Schowlow, Jere Uronen and Kenan Karaman, who all already came off the bench last weekend.

Another substitute against Hertha, Tom Krauß, was also missing, as the Germany U21 international served a yellow-card suspension. That saw Sepp van den Berg make a return to the matchday squad for the first time in more than six months after the Dutchman suffered an ankle ligament injury back in October against FC Augsburg.

Former Royal Blue Gregoritsch at the double

After a few minutes with both teams feeling their way into the game, Schwolow had to be alert to save the Royal Blues twice in the sixth minute. First he parried ex-Schalke striker Michael Gregoritsch’s powerful header following a cross from Christian Günter, before brilliantly keeping out Ritsu Doan’s rebound from close range.

However, the goalkeeper was picking the ball out of the net after Freiburg’s next attack. Doan played through Gregoritsch on the left-hand side of the box, and he held off his man before shooting low into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 (7’). Schwolow was helpless this time to keep out the Austrian’s precise finish.

Vincenzo Grifo came dangerously close to making it 2-0 in the 13th minute, but the post came to S04’s rescue from the Italian’s drilled shot. The next SC chance was only five minutes behind, this time with Lucas Höler firing a volley from a throw-in narrowly wide of the target. Jere Uronen then registered Schalke’s first effort of the match with a long-range strike, albeit one that didn’t test Mark Flekken (24’).

The danger continued to be down the other end. Grifo forced Schwolow into a great save down low in the 34th minute, pushing the goal-bound shot around the far post. His efforts were in vain yet again though, with Freiburg doubling their lead less than 60 seconds later. It was Gregoritsch on the scoresheet once more, flicking on a Kübler delivery on the edge of the box with his head and making the score 2-0 at the break.

Höler and Ginter increase the deficit

The away side had the first opening after the change of ends. Michael Frey, who came on together with Leo Greiml at the break in place of Dominick Drexler and Moritz Jenz, climbed high to win a header that looped towards goal, and an unsure Flekken felt safer tipping the ball over the top (49’).

The hosts were more clinical three minutes later. Schalke failed to clear their lines and Lucas Höler was able to bury a third goal for last year’s cup finalists from close range. Frey tried to offer a quick response and had a little space to line up a shot, but it was a fairly straightforward save for Flekken in the SC goal (55’).

Schwolow had to work a little harder in the 64th minute to keep Freiburg from making it 4-0. Gregoritsch was the target yet again from a Günter cross, but was unable to find away past the Schalke goalkeeper this time. Philipp Lienhart was next to try his luck less than three minutes later, fizzing a shot narrowly wide of the upright from around 20 yards. Back down the other end, Frey had another chance from a header, although he was unable to keep this one on target following a cross from substitute Mehmet Can Aydin (72’).

In the 82nd minute, Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter added a fourth. Merlin Röhl met Günter’s corner with a heel-flick and the ball carried through for Ginter finish at the back post. Noah Weißhaupt could have made it five in the closing stages, but the Germany U21 international was denied by Schwolow (88’).

Home match against Werder Bremen

The next match for the Royal Blues will be a Saturday evening Topspiel. Schalke 04 will host fellow promoted side Werder Bremen at the VELTINS-Arena at 18:30 CEST on 29th April. The reverse fixture in November last year ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat.