S04 come from behind to win in Augsburg

One change to the team

Head coach David Wagner made one change to the side that won 3-2 on Tuesday in the DFB-Pokal at Arminia Bielefeld. Suat Serdar replaced Alessandro Schöpf in the starting eleven, while Juan Miranda (ankle) and Matija Nastasic (Achilles tendon) both missed out in Augsburg with their respective injuries.

Sané stretchered off

Schalke failed to repeat their rapid start from the Bielefeld game, instead the hosts were on top early on and Marco Richter forced Alex Nübel into an early save. Richter then narrowly missed the target two minutes later. During that action, Salif Sané suffered an injury to his knee and had to subsequently stretchered off the pitch. Daniel Caligiuri replaced him, while Weston McKennie moved to centre back.

S04 appeared to be shocked and failed to get into the game during the first half. Augsburg played a number of long balls which the Royal Blues failed to deal with. The hosts’ increased pressure was almost rewarded with the opening goal in the 27 minute, however Niederlechner was expertly denied by Nübel’s head.

Baier scores for Augsburg, Lichtsteiner heads into his own net

FCA did then take the lead in the 38th minute. Alfred Finnbogason got in down the right-hand side and cut the ball back to Richter, who couldn’t control the ball. His touch, however, fell to Daniel Baier who curled the ball past Nübel to make it 1-0.

Schalke failed to create any clear-cut chances in the first half, but still managed to level things on the stroke of half time. Daniel Caligiuri’s dangerous free kick was flicked on into his own net by Augsburg defender Stefan Lichtsteiner (45+1’).

Finnbogason scores after VAR awards penalty

The first chance of the second period fell to the hosts, as Richter fired narrowly wide of the right post. At the other end, Bastian Oczipka tested Tomas Koubek with a strike from the edge of the box, but it was an easy save for the Czech keeper.

Oczipka was at the centre of the action shortly before the hour mark, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. After a cross from Finnbogason hit the left back’s hand from close range, the referee awarded a penalty with the help of VAR. Nübel guessed the wrong way and the Icelander re-established Augsburg’s lead.

Schalke refused to give up and it wasn’t long before they were level once more. Another glorious Caligiuri free kick from wide found the head of Ozan Kabak who headed into the bottom corner – his first strike in Royal Blue (71’).

Schalke refused to give up and it wasn’t long before they were level once more. Another glorious Caligiuri free kick from wide found the head of Ozan Kabak who headed into the bottom corner – his first strike in Royal Blue (71’).

As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, momentum was on the side of the visitors who were determined to leave Augsburg with three points. The lucky break fell in the 82nd minute – substitute Reece Oxford’s misplaced landed at the feet of Amine Harit, who charged past Tin Jedvaj into the box and scooped the ball into the back of the net.

Wagner’s men stood firm and saw out the remaining minutes to clinch a vital, if a little fortunate, victory.

Fortuna Düsseldorf at home next Saturday

Schalke will hope to build on these three points when they welcome Fortuna Düsseldorf to the VELTINS-Arena next Saturday (9/11) at 15:30 (CET).