A lightening quick hat-trick from Franco Di Santo helped Schalke 04 to their sixth consecutive win in 19 days. The Argentinean scored three goals within 17 minutes during the 4-0 victory over Greek runners-up Asteras Tripolis. The 26-year old scored once off his right foot, once off his head and then again from the penalty spot, before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar wrapped up the win late in the second half.
The Royal Blues, who face 1. FC Köln on Sunday, have won six consecutive games for the first time in almost nine years; back in 2006/07 when they were top of the league. The current third placed side are still a way away from such heights, but with their best Bundesliga start in 44 years, the Gelsenkirchen side are also now on a winning run in Group K of the Europa League.
Dortmund rescue late point in Greece
Borussia Dortmund avoided a shock defeat as they prepare for Sunday’s Bundesliga showdown. Three days before the away match at Bayern München, Thomas Tuchel made eight changes to the side that drew 1-1 with PAOK Saloniki. The current second-placed side in the Bundesliga have now gone three games without a win following their second Europa League group match.
Former Nürnberg player Robert Max scored against the run of play for the Greeks, heading in after a quick counterattack, before Gonzalo Castro found a deserved equaliser with his first Dortmund goal midway through the second half. The goal prevented the Greek side ending a 34-year record of failing to beat a German side, whilst it also ended Thomas Tuchel’s five-game winning streak in Europe.
Augsburg suffer defeat on home debut
FC Augsburg were guilty of their own downfall during their home debut in Europe. Markus Weinzierl’s side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Partizan Belgrade in their first ever Europa League match in front of a home crowd.
Following their opening defeat to Bilbao, Augsburg already find themselves well behind the pack in their group, with the Serbian champions already on six points. Weinzierl’s men now find themselves needing a win against AZ Alkmaar in three weeks time if they are to have any chance of progressing to the next round.
A lightening quick hat-trick from Franco Di Santo helped Schalke 04 to their sixth consecutive win in 19 days. The Argentinean scored three goals within 17 minutes during the 4-0 victory over Greek runners-up Asteras Tripolis. The 26-year old scored once off his right foot, once off his head and then again from the penalty spot, before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar wrapped up the win late in the second half.
The Royal Blues, who face 1. FC Köln on Sunday, have won six consecutive games for the first time in almost nine years; back in 2006/07 when they were top of the league. The current third placed side are still a way away from such heights, but with their best Bundesliga start in 44 years, the Gelsenkirchen side are also now on a winning run in Group K of the Europa League.
Dortmund rescue late point in Greece
Borussia Dortmund avoided a shock defeat as they prepare for Sunday’s Bundesliga showdown. Three days before the away match at Bayern München, Thomas Tuchel made eight changes to the side that drew 1-1 with PAOK Saloniki. The current second-placed side in the Bundesliga have now gone three games without a win following their second Europa League group match.
Former Nürnberg player Robert Max scored against the run of play for the Greeks, heading in after a quick counterattack, before Gonzalo Castro found a deserved equaliser with his first Dortmund goal midway through the second half. The goal prevented the Greek side ending a 34-year record of failing to beat a German side, whilst it also ended Thomas Tuchel’s five-game winning streak in Europe.
Augsburg suffer defeat on home debut
FC Augsburg were guilty of their own downfall during their home debut in Europe. Markus Weinzierl’s side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Partizan Belgrade in their first ever Europa League match in front of a home crowd.
Following their opening defeat to Bilbao, Augsburg already find themselves well behind the pack in their group, with the Serbian champions already on six points. Weinzierl’s men now find themselves needing a win against AZ Alkmaar in three weeks time if they are to have any chance of progressing to the next round.
