Schalke 04 lose 5-0 to second placed RB Leipzig

Serdar celebrates comeback

After coming back from his recurring ankle problem, Suat Serdar took his place in the starting XI ahead of Alessandro Schöpf. Wagner made two further changes from the 0-0 draw with Mainz as Ozan Kabak and Rabbi Matondo came into the lineup, replacing Jean-Clair Todibo and Michael Gregoritsch.

Sabitzer scores early

The game wasn’t even a minute old and it was already 1-0 to Leipzig. After a good pass from Timo Werner, Marcel Sabitzer unleashed a shot from distance into the top corner. The Royal Blues took some time to collect themselves and get going again in the game after going behind so early. 15 minutes or so into the match, Schalke finally managed to get a foothold in the game, but failed to create any big chances before the half time break. Although Schalke had managed to play more passes in the first half, the best attacking play belonged to the visitors.

Whenever the visitors looked dangerous, Sabitzer usually had something to do with it. In the 31st minute, the Austrian found himself at the far post after Werner’s shot was deflected, but surprisingly the midfielder struck over the bar with little time to react. Not two minutes later though, Sabitzer found himself on centre stage yet again as he shot from around 25 yards; his effort though sailed just wide of the mark.

Nkunku bags four assists

It was the Royal Blues who had the first notable chance after the break when Benito Raman latched onto a ball from Serdar. The Belgian rounded Peter Gulacsi on the left side, but the Leipzig keeper recovered to block Raman’s goalward shot. At the other end, Nübel dived well to deny Christopher Nkunku from the edge of the box, before Sabitzer dragged a shot wide of the far post.
Leipzig struck for the second time just after the hour mark, Timo Werner thumping past Nübel from just inside the penalty box. The game was put to bed seven minutes later, this time Marcel Halstenberg heading in from an Nkunku corner. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the title hopefuls added insult to injury with two more late goals from Angelino and Emil Forsberg. Nkunku registered his third and fourth assists of the game.

Another Topspiel for S04

Schalke have a week-long wait to make amends for the disappointing defeat when they face 1. FC Köln at the RheinEnergieSTADION at 18:30 next Saturday (29.2).