20th matchday
Two goals disallowed: Schalke only 0-0 against Wolfsburg
Schalke’s Michael Frey team were disallowed for two goals for offside. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
At Schalke 04 the zero is reliable. The bottom of the table is in the relegation battle after the third 0-0 in a row but not from the spot. There were goals against Wolfsburg – but they didn’t count.
No goals, less and less hope. With the third zero number in a row, FC Schalke 04 has come a step closer to the second division.
Despite another strong fight, the bottom of the table in the Bundesliga couldn’t get past a 0-0 draw against VfL Wolfsburg. Coach Thomas Reis’ team, which was newly recruited in the winter, even scored goals this time. Goals from Alex Král (50th minute) and Michael Frey (76th) were disallowed for offside. The gap to the relegation place at the weekend threatens to increase to seven points.
The zero number was also a disappointment for Lower Saxony. In terms of play and fighting, it was a really bad performance by the seventh in the table, who can hardly be considered a candidate for the European Cup. Captain Maximilian Arnold also missed a penalty early (9th). After three competitive defeats recently, it was the fourth winless game in a row for coach Niko Kovac’s team. The VW Club was able to thank goalkeeper Koen Casteels on Friday that it was not the fourth defeat in a row.
The game was made by the bottom of the table, who had improved again and had previously played 0-0 against 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach. With returnee Rodrigo Zalazar and winter loan Frey up the storm, Schalke, spurred on by 60,836 vociferous fans, made at least a little alarm this time offensively as well. Defensively, the Reis team was safe again anyway. This was also due to the weak opponents from Wolfsburg, who played similarly uninspired as the previous Schalke opponents Mönchengladbach.
VfL captain Arnold fails with a penalty
With the help of the video referee, the Lower Saxony almost unexpectedly took the lead early on. After almost ten minutes, after studying the video images on the sidelines, Benjamin Brand suddenly awarded VfL a penalty for no apparent reason. Only the TV pictures showed what was hidden from the spectators in the stadium: Moritz Jenz stepped on the foot of Wolfsburg’s Patrick Wimmer at the edge of the penalty area.
However, VfL captain Arnold put the penalty on the left post, so that the new Schalke number one, Ralf Fährmann, remained without a goal in the third game after his return between the posts of the Royal Blues.
In the second round, Schalke remained committed, poisonous and strong, but also unlucky. Král and Frey’s goals were celebrated like salvation before the referee team intervened. Far too little came from Wolfsburg to put pressure on the European Cup places again.