Schalke beaten 4-0 at Freiburg

Uth and Sané make their comebacks

There was one change to the team that beat FC Augsburg 1-0 last weekend. Sead Kolasinac came into the side for Bastian Oczipka as part of a 3-5-2. Mark Uth and Salif Sané both made their return from injury in the second half from off the bench.

Höler and Sallai score for Freiburg

The hosts began the game the better side and pushed forward looking for an early goal. After three minutes, they very nearly had one through a volley by Ermedin Demirovic, which was parried by Ralf Fährmann. It didn’t take them much longer to break the deadlock, though. Baptiste Santamaria’s low ball into the box was tucked home from close range by Lucas Höler (7’).

Freiburg continued to control proceedings and doubled their lead from the spot in the 22nd minute. Roland Sallai hit it down the middle to make it 2-0 after VAR intervened to award a spot-kick for a foul by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from a corner. The striker had caught his opponent with an arm in the box during an aerial battle and was penalised for it.

The remainder of the first half saw little to no notable action in the final third. Freiburg were still on top, although they didn’t create any further chances, while Schalke had no opportunities at all in the first period.

Günter brace

Freiburg quickly added to their advantage less than five minutes into the second half. Christian Günter benefited from Schalke losing the ball, carried the ball and struck it into the bottom corner, leaving Fährmann with no chance. ‘Ralle’ was able to keep out a deflected Demirovic header moments later (59’).

Mark Uth’s shot from inside the box in the 62nd minute was Schalke’s first attempt on goal of the afternoon. Uth, who had been subbed on shortly before, sent his attempt just over the bar after having received the ball from Kolasinac. Nine minutes later, the attacker attempted another shot, but it took a deflection off Keven Schlotterbeck and sailed wide of goal.

Instead it would be Christian Günter who would score his second of the day (74′). The midfielder took aim from 18 metres out and placed his shot just inside the far post. The Royal Blues would then record the final chance of the game, as Kolasinac found Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in front of goal, but the Dutchman was unable to beat SC goalkeeper Florian Müller from close range.

Away game in Bielefeld

Schalke’s next game is on Tuesday (20/4) away at Arminia Bielefeld (20:30 CEST).

The following match at home to Hertha BSC, scheduled for Saturday, 24th April, has been postponed by the DFL due to the Berliners being in quarantine after several Covid-19 infections. A new date is likely to be announced next week.