Gelsenkirchen.
Schalke 04 could have come within two points of penultimate Hertha BSC with a win over Cologne. After all, the effort was right.
the FC Schalke 04 has against 1. FC Cologne missed a great opportunity to make up ground in the Bundesliga relegation battle. What were the prospects for coach Thomas Reis’ team: Stuttgart lost on Friday, Bochum, Augsburg and Hertha BSC on Saturday without a single point. With a win, the Royal Blues could have reduced the gap to penultimate Hertha BSC to two points. Lost by 0:0 Schalke not the third competitive game of the year, but the team is still waiting for their first Bundesliga win since November 9, when they beat Mainz 05 1-0.
Schalke vs. 1. FC Köln: The game in the live ticker
Schalke – 1. FC Cologne 0-0
In order to make up for the terrible 1: 6 against RB Leipzig last Tuesday, Thomas Rice changed his starting eleven to four positions. The biggest surprise was the change between the posts: Instead of Alexander Schwolow, who didn’t even attract attention with his gross blunders against Leipzig, the S04 coach now trusted Ralf Fährmann. The 34-year-old kept goal for the first time this season.
Schalke 04 with the new players Skarke and Jenz
Not surprisingly there from the start: the freshly loaned winter signings Moritz Jenz (23/came from FC Lorient) in central defense and Tim Skarke (23/came from Union Berlin) on the left offensive flank. Fourth change compared to the Leipzig game: Simon Terodde stormed at the top instead of Michael Frey. Apparently, Thomas Reis counted on several passes to the front.
There was little to see of that in the first 45 minutes. The efforts of the home and guest teams were not to be denied, but the ability was not too pronounced here or there. The people of Cologne, who announced Ondrej Duda’s loan to the Italian Serie A club Hellas Verona on Sunday, were lucky in the second minute that their goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe was on the ball. Skarke’s cross sailed in from the right, Jenz headed powerfully in the six-yard space, but not placed enough – Schwäbe was there with a parade. It would have been interesting to see how Schalke played a game with an early goal.
Schalke didn’t let themselves be played like Leipzig did
As a result, a competitive game developed in which inaccuracies in the last pass destroyed the attacking efforts. Like in the 38th minute, when Danny Latza, who was fighting obligingly in midfield, took the ball from Marius Bülter’s foot in the penalty area after Marius Bülter had won the ball, but the pass to Terodde was much too firm and ended up out of bounds. After all: The Royal Blues didn’t let themselves be played like the Leipzigers; so there was the reaction the coach wanted to the bloodless performance on Tuesday. Fährmann didn’t have to parry a shot on goal before the break, which Linton Maina (27th) could have changed most likely if he had completed the low cross directly and not frittered away.
Schalke notes: Zalazar gets going immediately – too much mediocrity
Nevertheless, the 61,571 spectators in the Schalke Arena appreciated the performance with applause and support – because they noticed that there were at least attempts to bring in the third win of the season. It was the same after the change of sides: Schalke were the more active team, looking for a goal without becoming really dangerous. Tom Krauss had the best opportunity after a corner (65′), but his header swept just over the bar. At this point, Simon Terodde, who had no shot on goal and was in danger of yellow-red, had already been substituted for Michael Frey.
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Zalazar comes in and makes the Schalke game dangerous
The return of an attacking player gave the Schalke supporters hope in the 67th minute: Rodrigo Zalazar has recovered from his metatarsal fracture and came on for Marius Bülter. In just two minutes, Zalazar accomplished something that cannot otherwise be marveled at in a Schalke game: a deep pass between defenders. It was bitter that Soichiro Kozuki was unable to convert the pass well and was able to convert it into a dangerous shot on goal from a inside right position. Zalazar tried it himself in the 73rd minute, but missed the goal from 24 meters out.
Schalke: Zalazar misses the chance to win
From Schalke’s point of view, it was positive that the defense, which was so vulnerable this season, was spared major mistakes. Zalazar (83′) had the last big chance to win, but the Uruguayan failed to score after a cross from Jere Uronen. Schalke missed two points that can still hurt.
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