S04 beaten 4-1 in Mönchengladbach

Hoppe starts, Calhanoglu and Schuler on the bench

Head coach Manuel Baum made four changes to the team that were beaten 2-0 by VfL Wolfsburg last weekend. Ozan Kabak, Benito Raman, Steven Skrzybski and U23s striker Matthew Hoppe came into the starting XI. Knappenschmiede players Kerim Calhanoglu (U19) and Jan-Luca Schuler (U23) were also on the bench for the first time.

More chances for S04, but Neuhaus scores first

The Royal Blues started brightly and had several dangerous attacks. Mark Uth forced a parried save from distance after just four minutes, while Hoppe volleyed narrowly wide (9′) and Skrzybski headed wide of the right post (12′) early on.

Gladbach had fewer chances, but were more clinical when opportunity knocked on the quarter-hour mark. Breel Embolo’s shot was initially saved well by Frederik Rönnow from close range, but the ball fell fortuitously to the feet of Florian Neuhaus, who side footed the ball over the line from just inside the penalty box. A goal-line scramble was unable to prevent the ball crossing the line.

Uth and Raman combine to level – Wendt hits back for Gladbach

Despite the unfortunate setback, Schalke responded positively. Just five minutes later, Uth latched onto a misplaced Thuram pass and chipped the ball delicately over the Gladbach defensive line, where Benito Raman was waiting to volley expertly past Yann Sommer. Baum’s men almost took the lead moments later, but Uth’s curling free kick from 25 yards rattled the upright and went out for a goal kick.

Borussia hit Schalke with a hammer blow in the 36th minute when, against the run of play, the re-took the lead. Neuhaus turned provider to tee up Oscar Wendt, who slotted coolly past Rönnow from close range. Five minutes later, Gladbach almost extended the lead when Thuram headed onto the crossbar, before Tony Jantschke fired wide on the rebound.

Thuram and Wolf finish the job

It wasn’t long into the second half when S04 conceded their third of the evening. Herrmann whipped in a free kick that found Matthias Ginter, who headed to Alassane Pléa. The Frenchman’s shot was initially parried by Rönnow but Thuram was on hand to finish from point-blank range to make it three (51’). Unlike the first half, Baum’s side found it much more difficult to create dangerous chances and get into good positions. Skrzybski saw an effort go wide (59’), while at the other end of the pitch, Rönnow saved with his head to deny Pléa (62’).

With a two-goal advantage behind them, the hosts defended solidly while repeatedly launching dangerous attacks at the other end. Thuram fired an effort wide (64’), before Rönnow was forced into a flying save to deny a long-range Neuhaus shot two minutes later. Pléa also came close but did not put enough power behind his attempt (68’).

It wasn’t until the 80th minute that Hannes Wolf scored Gladbach’s fourth. Pléa won the ball in midfield and fed Wolf down the left-hand side, who advanced into the box and powered in a far-post effort, taking the score to 4-1.

Leverkusen up next on Sunday

Schalke’s next fixture on matchday 10 in the Bundesliga is against Bayer Leverkusen at the VELTINS-Arena next Sunday, with kick off at 18:00 CET.