Pougouras hinders Schalke’s push for victory
After the interval, Schalke looked to take control of the match as Goretzka came on as a substitute in the 56th minute for Choupo-Moting as Weinzierl looked to put the game out of PAOK’s reach, however, the determined Greek’s refused to go down without a fight.
Shortly before the end, Schalke came close to putting the tie to bed. Bentaleb and Schöpf went close before Thilo Kehrer forced PAOK defender Achilleas Pougouras into making a goal line clearance. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Höwedes forced a great save from the goalkeeper with a header from six yards. PAOK only threatened once in the second half in the form of a left footed strike from Pedro Henrique in the 69th minute, but Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann wasn’t threatened.
Schalke 04 comfortably progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League. After a 3-0 win in the away leg in Thessaloniki, the Royal Blues drew 1-1 with the Greeks in the Veltins Arena. Alessandro Schöpf gave Schalke the lead in the 23rd minute, but two minutes later, Matija Nastasic put the ball into his own net under pressure from Koulouris. Schalke’s last 16 opponents will be announced this coming Friday (13:00 CET) and the ties will be played on 9th and 16th March.
Bastian Schweinsteiger could also be in action in the round of 16 as his Manchester United team secured a 1-0 victory in Saint Etienne. The World Cup winner came on in the 62nd minute. United had gone some way towards winning the tie in the first leg in Manchester when a hat trick from Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave them a comfortable 3-0 lead. Russian side FK Krasnodar also booked their place in the last 16 with a 2-1 aggregate win over Fenerbache.
Five changes for Schalke, Schöpf scores
Schalke coach Markus Weinzierl was true to his word and rotated his squad. In contrast to the first leg, Schalke made five changes to their starting XI from their last match. Max Meyer, Johannes Geis, Matija Nastasic, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting started in place of Leon Goretzka, Holger Badstuber, Benjamin Stambouli, Daniel Caligiuri and Guido Burgstaller. World Cup winner Benedikt Höwedes was also in the starting XI for Schalke.
Both teams had early sights of goal and that set the tone for an enthralling first half. The first clear chance feel to Schalke. Naldo’s glancing header was parried by Panagiotis Glykos, Huntelaar put the rebound into the side netting. Two minutes later Schöpf converted from Choupo-Moting’s precise pass to put Schalke 1-0 ahead.
PAOK respond quickly
Some of Schalke’s players were still celebrating when PAOK struck back. Mystakidis whipped in a dangerous cross from the left flank which Koulouris went for, but it eventually ricocheted off Nastasic for an own goal. PAOK then exerted more pressure on Schalke, without creating too many clear cut chances.
Shortly before half-time, however, it was Schalke who twice came close to taking the lead. Huntelaar stole the ball not far from goal, but at a tight angle. Eventually Bentaleb took a shot from distance which went just wide of the left-hand post.
Pougouras hinders Schalke’s push for victory
After the interval, Schalke looked to take control of the match as Goretzka came on as a substitute in the 56th minute for Choupo-Moting as Weinzierl looked to put the game out of PAOK’s reach, however, the determined Greek’s refused to go down without a fight.
Shortly before the end, Schalke came close to putting the tie to bed. Bentaleb and Schöpf went close before Thilo Kehrer forced PAOK defender Achilleas Pougouras into making a goal line clearance. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Höwedes forced a great save from the goalkeeper with a header from six yards. PAOK only threatened once in the second half in the form of a left footed strike from Pedro Henrique in the 69th minute, but Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann wasn’t threatened.
