FC Schalke 04 secured a comfortable 3-0 home victory over FC Augsburg on Bundesliga matchday 24, ending a run of six games without a win in all competitions. The Royal Blues sealed things in the first half as a brace by Guido Burgstaller and a goal from Daniel Caligiuri saw the home side score three before the break. The Royal Blues maintained their three-goal cushion in the second half to take all three points in Gelsenkirchen.
Schalke now move ahead of Augsburg in the table to eleventh place, while FCA drop back into 13th and are just two points ahead of Werder Bremen in 15th place.
Goretzka sidelined
Schalke were forced to replace Germany international Leon Goretzka just before kick-off due to a hamstring issue. World Champion Benedikt Höwedes, Olympic silver medal winner Max Meyer and youth team international Thilo Kehrer were all included in the S04 starting XI.
The hosts got off to a perfect start in front of 59,468 spectators. A Geis corner missed everyone in the penalty area but found Burgstaller at the far post and the January signing slotted home from close range to give Schalke the lead after just four minutes.
Five minutes decide the game
Schalke were in control and added a second before the half-hour mark. Meyer found Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on the left wing, who played a sublime pass into the middle, where Burgstaller again made no mistake and coolly converted. Augsburg were given a great opportunity to reduce the deficit just three minutes later but Paul Verhaegh failed to put away his spot-kick after Höwedes had brought down Raul Bobadilla inside the area and Fährmann got down well to make the save.
Schalke then killed the game as Caligiuri made it 3-0 after 35 minutes following an assist from Kolasinac. The Royal Blues set about simply controlling the game in the second half and they comfortably fended off any comeback attempts from FCA to claim all three points.
FC Schalke 04 secured a comfortable 3-0 home victory over FC Augsburg on Bundesliga matchday 24, ending a run of six games without a win in all competitions. The Royal Blues sealed things in the first half as a brace by Guido Burgstaller and a goal from Daniel Caligiuri saw the home side score three before the break. The Royal Blues maintained their three-goal cushion in the second half to take all three points in Gelsenkirchen.
Schalke now move ahead of Augsburg in the table to eleventh place, while FCA drop back into 13th and are just two points ahead of Werder Bremen in 15th place.
Goretzka sidelined
Schalke were forced to replace Germany international Leon Goretzka just before kick-off due to a hamstring issue. World Champion Benedikt Höwedes, Olympic silver medal winner Max Meyer and youth team international Thilo Kehrer were all included in the S04 starting XI.
The hosts got off to a perfect start in front of 59,468 spectators. A Geis corner missed everyone in the penalty area but found Burgstaller at the far post and the January signing slotted home from close range to give Schalke the lead after just four minutes.
Five minutes decide the game
Schalke were in control and added a second before the half-hour mark. Meyer found Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on the left wing, who played a sublime pass into the middle, where Burgstaller again made no mistake and coolly converted. Augsburg were given a great opportunity to reduce the deficit just three minutes later but Paul Verhaegh failed to put away his spot-kick after Höwedes had brought down Raul Bobadilla inside the area and Fährmann got down well to make the save.
Schalke then killed the game as Caligiuri made it 3-0 after 35 minutes following an assist from Kolasinac. The Royal Blues set about simply controlling the game in the second half and they comfortably fended off any comeback attempts from FCA to claim all three points.
