Schalke defeat Nürnberg 4-1 at home

Churlinov starts up front

Assistant coach Sven Piepenbrock once again took charge of the team in Dimitrios Grammozis’ absence due to his Covid-19 infection. The coaching team decided to make three changes to the side that lost 2-1 to FC St. Pauli last time out. Reinhold Ranftl, Blendi Idrizi and Darko Churlinov replaced Mehmet Can Aydin, Dominick Drexler and Rufat Dadashov. Churlinov partnered Marvin Pieringer up front in the usual 3-5-2 system.

Ouwejan puts Schalke ahead

Schalke gained control of the game from the off, putting pressure on Nürnberg on a number of occasions. The first two dangerous moments involved Marvin Pieringer, who initially volleyed the ball way wide (3’) and was then denied a shot at the last second by Christopher Schindler (8’). It took 15 minutes for the visitors to threaten, but it very nearly resulted in the opening goal. Manuel Schäffler headed a cross back across goal, hitting the far post (16’). 120 seconds later, Rodrigo Zalazar hit an effort just wide from a tight angle.

With 20 minutes played at the VELTINS-Arena, the home team took the lead. Darko Churlinov dribbled past several Nürnberg players, got into the box and then pulled the trigger. His shot was parried into the air by Christian Mathenia, only to Thomas Ouwejan. The wing-back volleyed it home from close range to give Schalke the lead.

More chances for S04

Having taking the lead, Schalke continued to put pressure on and could have had more goals in the first half. Churlinov again impressed with some fine dribbling, though this time he blazed his shot over (28’). Two minutes later, it very nearly was 2-0. Blendi Idrizi won the ball in the box and struck an effort from a tight angle. That was saved by Mathenia, but the ball fell to Reinhold Ranftl. The Austrian fired it towards goal, only for the goalkeeper to again make the save, tipping it onto the post.

Schalke’s goalkeeper, Martin Fraisl, was called into action at the other end due to a mistake of his own. His sloppy pass went straight to Mats Möller Daehli in the 18-yard area, however he made up for it by keeping out the shot (34’). S04 were then fortunate not to concede three minutes after that incident. Fabian Nürnberger was clean through one-on-one and forced Fraisl into a save. The rebound landed at Manuel Schäffler’s feet, and he found the back of the net. The referee Tobias Reichel had actually blown his whistle for offside before Schäffler had scored, even though Nürnberger appeared not to be in an offside position.

There was still time for some action in Nürnberg’s half at the end of the first period. Marcin Kaminski and Victor Pálsson missed opportunities from Ouwejan corners (42’, 43’), before Blendi Idrizi saw his powerful shot tipped over brilliantly by Mathenia in injury time.

Nürnberger equalises – own goal puts S04 in the lead again

The second half began badly from a Schalke perspective. Manuel Schäffler knocked down Enrico Valentini’s cross with his head to Fabian Nürnberger, and he found the back of the net on his left foot (49’). Die Knappen looked to find an immediate response, with Zalazar and Idrizi both clearing Mathenia’s goal (50’, 54’).

Just like the first half, it was an attacking game with both teams looking to strike the next blow. That then came for the home side, albeit via the help of their friends from Nürnberg. An Ouwejan corner was cleared to Blendi Idrizi, who let fly from outside the box. The Kosovan’s strike was heading wide, however Manuel Schäffler inadvertently deflected it into the back of the net via his head to give Schalke the lead again (66’).

Churlinov and Itakura seal the win

After that unlucky own goal, Nürnberg struggled to create chances and Schalke instead looked to close the game out. Marvin Pieringer headed wide from a whipped Ranftl delivery (70’), though the Royal Blues would get more goals to secure all three points soon enough. Rodrigo Zalazar saw his long-range shot parried by Mathenia, who was then rounded by Darko Churlinov and the Macedonian slotted home into the empty goal (85’). In the fourth minute of added time, Ko Itakura got his first goal for the club, a low drive after a nice one-two with Pieringer, which meant it finished 4-1 to S04!

Final game of the year in Hamburg

Schalke’s last competitive game of 2021 will come in Hamburg next weekend. The matchday 18 clash will take place on Saturday, 18th December away to HSV at 20:30 CET.