5-1 defeat away to Hoffenheim in the DFB-Pokal

Five changes – Müller and Schell from the U23s on the bench

Both sides faced off again just four days after the Bundesliga meeting at the VELTINS-Arena. Schalke head coach Frank Kramer went with a back-three this time around.

He made five changes to the side that lost 3-0 on Friday night, with Henning Matriciani, Tobias Mohr, Danny Latza, Florian Flick and Jordan Larsson replacing Leo Greiml, Cedric Brunner, Tom Krauß, Dominick Drexler and Marius Bülter. Greiml (knee), Brunner (thigh) and Krauß (adductor) were all unavailable to due injuries. As a result, Joey Müller and Julias Schell from the U23s made the bench.

Dabbur opens the scoring, Angelino makes it 2-0

The hosts had a great chance to score after just two minutes. Christoph Baumgartner passed it to Angelino in the box and he had loads of space to shoot from a tight angle, but put his effort just past the far post. It didn’t take the hosts long to open the scoring though, with Munas Dabbur beating a S04 defender and slotting it past Alexander Schwolow following a good ball to him from Ozan Kabak (5’).

Schalke rarely threatened the TSG goal in the first half. Tobias Mohr tried his luck from distance, but couldn’t cause Oliver Baumann any problems (7’). At the other end, Grischa Prömel laid it off for Dabbur, whose volley was well held by Schwolow (13’). Hoffenheim got their second goal just two minutes later. Schwolow initially did well as he rushed out to block Dennis Geiger’s shot, however the ball fell back to Hoffenheim and Robert Skov played it to Angelino, who found the bottom corner with a low drive from outside the box.

Dabbur gets another before the break

Hoffenheim continued to create the better chances following their second goal. Robert Skov fired well wide on his left foot (27’), Dabbur lobbed one just wide (30’) and then Prömel’s flick was kept out by Schwolow after a delightful dink through to him by Dabbur (38’). Aside from a Thomas Ouwejan effort than went well over (34’), Schalke managed no other shots during this phase of the game.

TSG striker Munas Dabbur got his second of the night just before the half-time break. He played a one-two with Dennis Geiger in the box and then smashed it past Schwolow from close range (43’). Danny Latza had a decent effort for the Royal Blues shortly afterwards, forcing Oliver Baumann into a good save from his long-range strike (45’).

Kabak scores from Skov’s free-kick

The second half began similarly to the first one, again badly for Schalke. It took less than a minute for the ball to land in Schalke’s goal again, although it didn’t count. Schwolow made a save to deny Georginio Rutter and the ball was then headed towards goal by Baumgartner, eventually going all the way in. Prömel was in Schwolow’s way and in an offside position, so the flag went up.

Hoffenheim were celebrating again five minutes later and this time it counted. Robert Skov’s free-kick was headed in at the near post by Ozan Kabak (51’). Schwolow tipped a rising Baumgartner shot over the bar three minutes after their fourth goal.

Drexler gets a consolation for S04

TSG scored a fifth goal in the 63rd minute. Angelino’s driven cross from the left was deflected on by Maya Yoshida and fell to Pavel Kaderabek and he easily converted. Schalke got a consolation six minutes later and it was a goal made by the substitutes. Kenan Karaman passed to Sebastian Polter and his pass into the centre of the box was met perfectly by Dominick Drexler to find the back of the net.

Polter tested out Baumann (72’) and then Karaman headed a corner from Ouwejan just wide (88’). In between these chances, Jacob Bruun Larsen curled a free-kick narrowly over the bar (87’), but it finished 5-1 for the home team and Schalke subsequently exited the DFB-Pokal.

Hertha away on Sunday

Schalke’s next game is on Sunday away to Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga (23/10). Kick off at the Olympiastadion is at 17:30 CEST.