Klaas Jan Huntelaar set a new Bundesliga record today which he won't be too proud of, but later restored his honour and secured a 2-1 home victory for Schalke 04 over FSV Mainz 05. The Dutchman missed his fourth consecutive penalty in the first half, but later scored the winner with his 70th Bundesliga goal.
In Schalke's first game since the departure of World Cup winner Julian Draxler, who joined VfL Wolfsburg on a 35 million Euro transfer, the team performed well and had lots of drive going forward but lacked a clinical touch. That was until Joel Matip found the back of the net in the 37th minute. Mainz' Yunus Malli scored the equaliser just five minutes later but Huntelaar's strike in the second half secured all three points for the Royal Blues.
Meyer replaces Draxler in midfield
Max Meyer replaced Julian Draxler, who made his debut for Wolfsburg on Saturday. Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, on loan from FC Bayern München, started the game on the bench. World Champion Benedikt Höwedes was not yet able to return to the squad, despite having fully returned to the team’s training sessions.
Daniel Brosinski brought down S04's Dennis Aogo in the area but Mainz keeper Loris Karius denied Huntelaar from the spot. The Royal Blues shrugged off the initial shock and continued to create chances with lots of pressure and pace. Huntelaar, Goretzka and Matip all missed opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.
Malli scores equaliser, Huntelaar restores lead
The visitors were at times overwhelmed by Schalke's terrific display in the opening half and needed a good 30 minutes before managing to create chances themselves. But just as Mainz were beginning to find their rhythm, Schalke took the lead through Matip's header from a Johannes Geis corner.
Five minutes later though, Yunus Malli levelled the score after tapping home a rebound from Christian Clemens' shot that hit the post. Malli has already bagged eight goals for Mainz this year.
The hosts were unable to keep up the first-half pace after the break, but still had the game under control. Shortly after the hour mark Huntelaar found the back of the net, as he scored his 108th competitive goal for the Royal Blues.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar set a new Bundesliga record today which he won't be too proud of, but later restored his honour and secured a 2-1 home victory for Schalke 04 over FSV Mainz 05. The Dutchman missed his fourth consecutive penalty in the first half, but later scored the winner with his 70th Bundesliga goal.
In Schalke's first game since the departure of World Cup winner Julian Draxler, who joined VfL Wolfsburg on a 35 million Euro transfer, the team performed well and had lots of drive going forward but lacked a clinical touch. That was until Joel Matip found the back of the net in the 37th minute. Mainz' Yunus Malli scored the equaliser just five minutes later but Huntelaar's strike in the second half secured all three points for the Royal Blues.
Meyer replaces Draxler in midfield
Max Meyer replaced Julian Draxler, who made his debut for Wolfsburg on Saturday. Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, on loan from FC Bayern München, started the game on the bench. World Champion Benedikt Höwedes was not yet able to return to the squad, despite having fully returned to the team’s training sessions.
Daniel Brosinski brought down S04's Dennis Aogo in the area but Mainz keeper Loris Karius denied Huntelaar from the spot. The Royal Blues shrugged off the initial shock and continued to create chances with lots of pressure and pace. Huntelaar, Goretzka and Matip all missed opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.
Malli scores equaliser, Huntelaar restores lead
The visitors were at times overwhelmed by Schalke's terrific display in the opening half and needed a good 30 minutes before managing to create chances themselves. But just as Mainz were beginning to find their rhythm, Schalke took the lead through Matip's header from a Johannes Geis corner.
Five minutes later though, Yunus Malli levelled the score after tapping home a rebound from Christian Clemens' shot that hit the post. Malli has already bagged eight goals for Mainz this year.
The hosts were unable to keep up the first-half pace after the break, but still had the game under control. Shortly after the hour mark Huntelaar found the back of the net, as he scored his 108th competitive goal for the Royal Blues.
