Despite “home game in Sinsheim”
Schalke stumbles and is last again
4/9/2023 9:47 p.m
An own goal and a penalty dampen Schalke’s hope of staying up. The Royal Blues try hard against Hoffenheim, but in the end there is no luck. After all, goals are only scored in their own half of the field.
Despite the impressive fan support, Schalke 04 were handed the red lantern at the “home game in Sinsheim”. The Royal Blues lost 2-0 (0-1) in a basement duel at TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 27 of the Bundesliga. Due to the second defeat in a row, the promoted team fell back to the last place in the table – now all eyes are on the relegation hit on Friday against the penultimate Hertha BSC.
An own goal by Alex Kral (22′) and a goal from Ihlas Bebou from the penalty spot (70′) ensured the victory for Hoffenheim, who, thanks to the third three in a row, moved further away from the relegation zone. TSG has a five-point lead over the relegation place. Schalke, on the other hand, who are two points behind the relegation rank, suffered their first away defeat in the second half of the season.
Atmosphere like in Gelsenkirchen
The powerful-voiced guest fans created an atmosphere like in Gelsenkirchen. Of the 30,150 spectators in the sold-out arena, more than a third supported the Royal Blues. “I’ve experienced a lot as a Schalke coach, but that’s the next level,” said Thomas Reis briefly at the start of DAZN.
On the other hand, TSG sports director Alexander Rosen, who has been in office for ten years, made it clear before the start of the game that, despite the rumors about his departure at the end of the season, he expects to stay. “I haven’t just been here for two months – and I’m not on the run,” said the 43-year-old, whose contract runs until 2025. Most recently, majority owner Dietmar Hopp had already denied the report of a separation.
Rapid start
The game started quickly. Schalke would have taken the lead after 35 seconds, Marius Bülter’s shot touched the bar. Just under a minute later, Christoph Baumgartner missed a similar chance with a header on the other side. After that, things calmed down a bit. Only in the 20th minute did Finn Ole Becker test Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann. Two minutes later the keeper was powerless. The Czech Kral scored from close range after a cross from Angelino into his own goal.
Shortly thereafter, Schalke again had aluminum bad luck. Maya Yoshida hit the post with a header (24′). After that, TSG took over the command. The best opportunity in this phase was missed by Andrej Kramaric, who failed at Fährmann (32nd). At the beginning of the second half, ex-Schalke player Ozan Kabak came on for the ailing TSG defense chief Kevin Vogt. Bülter created a threat for the first time in the second half with a long-range shot (53′).
After that it got turbulent on the other side. After Yoshida fouled Baumgartner, referee Matthias Jöllenbeck (Freiburg) rightly pointed to the point. Fährmann was able to parry Bebou’s penalty, but left the goal line with both feet. When the penalty was retaken, Bebou scored.