Again no points and little hope – Schalke 04 falls towards the second division. In the 1: 6 (0: 4) against RB Leipzig, the royal blues lacked Bundesliga suitability and brought back bad memories: After the first half of the season, the bottom of the table is only slightly better off with nine points and a clear deficit than in the season two years ago, which in descent ended. Andre Silva (7th and 44th) scored twice for Leipzig, who climbed to second place for at least one night after the 15th competitive game in a row without defeat. The other goals were scored by Benjamin Henrichs (15′), Timo Werner (45’+2′), Dani Olmo (83′) with a remarkable lob and Yussuf Poulsen (89′).
Soichiro Kozuki (56th) was successful for Schalke, for whom little has changed even under the new coach Thomas Reis: After just one win in the past eleven Bundesliga games and four goals in the last nine, the situation with the promoted team is as hopeless as in 2021 , when the traditional club descended. “The first half was to forget. We didn’t get into the duels,” said winter newcomer Michael Frey on Sky and added: “We have to forget the game quickly. Cologne is coming on Sunday.”
Reis had dropped striker Simon Terodde from the starting eleven for the first time since the end of October. Winter signing Michael Frey, on loan from Royal Antwerp last Friday, was allowed to try his luck as a “new player without pressure”. At RB, Werner made his comeback in the starting lineup. Midfielder Konrad Laimer, who, according to “kicker” information, signed with Bayern Munich from the summer, was also part of the RB starting eleven.
Werner was instrumental in giving the visitors an early lead as he moored a long ball and passed it on to Silva, who scored undisturbed from 20 yards. The game was actually decided just eight minutes later: Henrichs also had a free shot after assisting Olmo. Leipzig combined unhindered, Schalke just ran behind. In the meantime, the game was reminiscent of a first round game in the DFB Cup with at least one class difference. The gaps in the defense of the bottom of the table were as big as those in the stands, where at least 10,000 places remained free.
Frey hardly got a chance to demonstrate his skills as a Terodde substitute. Most of the time, the Swiss had to get the ball himself deep in midfield. No sign of rearing up. The 22-year-old Kozuki, who was still playing in the regional league a few weeks ago, was the most conspicuous at Schalke. Reis watched the one-sided events on the pitch largely motionless – with his hands deep in his pockets and a worried look.