Opening game of R20 Bundesliga was also one of most interesting game in this round. On Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen we saw a game between (at that moment) 6th Schalke 04 and 3rd Borussia Monchengladbach.
Before the game Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo had a lot of problem since he couldn’t count on 8 players. On Schalke injury list are Jefferson Farfan, Sead Kolasinac, Julian Draxler, Leon Goretzka, Chinedu Obasi, Ralf Fahrmann and Fabian Giefer, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was under suspension. Guests didn’t have so many problems with injuries Lucien Favre couldn’t count only on Andre Hahn.
This was important game for both of teams for Schalke to catch the place for UEFA Champions League and for Borussia Monchengladbach to keep the pressure on 2nd Wolfsburg and also to keep them away from three clubs that are just 2 points away from them (Augsburg, Bayern Leverkusen and Schalke 04).
Schalke manage to score from first real chance in the game. In 10’ Tranquillo Barnetta didn’t have big problems to score from a close range after a good cross from Kevin-Prince Boateng. During the whole game Borussia Monchengladbach was much superior in their ball possession but they couldn’t make any chances. Most of their attacks were either blocked or finished with long shots. In 38’ Schalke almost mange to score second goal, this time Barnetta was taking the role of assistant, after good corner cross Joel Matip header went just little over the bar. First half end with Borussia having 68% ball possession but they couldn’t convert that possession into goal chances. Second half was similar to first Borussia was winning ball possession “game” while Schalke makes goal chances. Closest to scoring the equalizer Borussia was in 87’ but Raffael shot from the center of the box went near the left post.
At the end Schalke won and took three important points for them. In global they got far more goal chances in compared with their ball possession and Di Matteo will have a lot of work on regarding that. Borussia got the ball possession but they couldn’t make any chances, during the entire game they only made 1 good goal attempt. What is more surprising is that most of theirs goal attempts were shots from outside the box.
With this win Schalke jump on 3rd place in Bundesliga while Borussia drop to 4th place. Since their contenders Augsburg and Bayern Leverkusen are playing on Sunday it will be interesting to see will they be on their places after the last game of R20 on Sunday. But if Champion title in Bundesliga is over at least we got a lot of excitement for Europa competitions.
Bundesliga R20: Schalke 04 – Wolfsburg 1 – 0, Match Center
Bundesliga R20: Schalke 04 - Wolfsburg 1 - 0, Match Report
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