FC Schalke 04 clinched a 1-0 win over Huub Stevens and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on the 17th matchday of the Bundesliga season. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the only goal of the match in the 28th minute for the Gelsenkirchen side, the club with which Stevens has previously won the UEFA Cup (1997) and DFB Cup (2001 and 2002). Schalke have provisionally secured fourth place ahead of the games on Saturday, and Hoffenheim stay second bottom.
Hoffenheim’s attacker Eduardo Vargas had the first chance of the match after four minutes, as he watched the ball roll just wide of the far post. Schalke needed just two more minutes to register their first chance, with Germany U21 international Leon Goretzka shooting narrowly wide from 16 metres. After a hectic opening period, Schalke started to dominate proceedings but struggled to find holes in TSG’s organised back line.
Schalke superior, but lacked urgency
The Gelsenkirchen side lacked creativity and precision on the edge of the box. The guests were content with picking off their generally inaccurate passes. The goal came though from a long ball from Johannes Geis, which surprised Pavel Kaderabek, allowing Choupo-Moting to score his fifth goal in his last six matches - even if the finish was a bit fortunate.
Schalke saw plenty of the ball in the second half, but didn’t mange to carve out many clear opportunities. Sead Kolasinac was the exception to the rule, hitting the outside of the post from a tight angle in the 65th minute. Hoffenheim didn’t give up, and had a very good chance to equalise trough Vargas just minutes later.
FC Schalke 04 clinched a 1-0 win over Huub Stevens and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on the 17th matchday of the Bundesliga season. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the only goal of the match in the 28th minute for the Gelsenkirchen side, the club with which Stevens has previously won the UEFA Cup (1997) and DFB Cup (2001 and 2002). Schalke have provisionally secured fourth place ahead of the games on Saturday, and Hoffenheim stay second bottom.
Hoffenheim’s attacker Eduardo Vargas had the first chance of the match after four minutes, as he watched the ball roll just wide of the far post. Schalke needed just two more minutes to register their first chance, with Germany U21 international Leon Goretzka shooting narrowly wide from 16 metres. After a hectic opening period, Schalke started to dominate proceedings but struggled to find holes in TSG’s organised back line.
Schalke superior, but lacked urgency
The Gelsenkirchen side lacked creativity and precision on the edge of the box. The guests were content with picking off their generally inaccurate passes. The goal came though from a long ball from Johannes Geis, which surprised Pavel Kaderabek, allowing Choupo-Moting to score his fifth goal in his last six matches - even if the finish was a bit fortunate.
Schalke saw plenty of the ball in the second half, but didn’t mange to carve out many clear opportunities. Sead Kolasinac was the exception to the rule, hitting the outside of the post from a tight angle in the 65th minute. Hoffenheim didn’t give up, and had a very good chance to equalise trough Vargas just minutes later.
