Schalke fight back to earn an important point at HSV

Bülter and Sané back in the squad

Head coach Dimitrios Grammozis went with the same team that beat 1. FC Nürnberg 4-1 eight days ago. Marius Bülter, who missed the last two games due to high blood levels, returned to the squad, as did Salif Sané, with both players taking their place on the bench. The defender had been out recently with muscular problems.

Glatzel scores after two minutes

It took HSV less than a minute to win the first corner of the match – and this then led to a very early lead for the home side. Sonny Kittel’s delivery found an unmarked Robert Glatzel in the middle and he headed it into the far corner to make it 1-0 (2’).

The hosts were in control for the opening 10 minutes. Marcin Kaminski’s effort from range, which flew well over the bar, was Schalke’s first shot of the night (11’). Thomas Ouwejan (14’) missed from a tight angle, whilst Darko Churlinov had an effort blocked after 20 minutes.

Schalke had more of the chances in the first half, though Hamburg had the better ones. Glatzel pulled the trigger on the turn and forced Fraisl into making a strong save (24’).

Zalazar tests out Johansson

With half an hour played, a Zalazar strike from distance went over Marko Johansson’s goal, before the Uruguayan forced the goalkeeper into a save, despite slipping as he let fly (37’). Between these two moments, Marvin Pieringer was shown his fifth yellow card of the season (34’) and Ludovit Reis saw his shot just rise over the bar from the edge of the box (35’).

HSV had another good moment as the first half drew to a close. Faride Alidou cut inside, but struck it narrowly wide (41’). 60 seconds later, Victor Pálsson curled one over the bar and the first half therefore ended 1-0 to HSV.

Churlinov misses a great chance

Schalke were the dominant side from the start of the second half. The golden chance to equalise came after 52 minutes for Darko Churlinov. He dispossessed Sebastian Schonlau in the box after a sloppy pass from Marko Johansson, but put his shot just past the post from a great position.

Unlike the first half, Hamburg weren’t as dangerous, allowing Grammozis’ team to put in a good performance in search of possible points. Between the 65th and 67th minute, the Knappen had three notable opportunities. A Churlinov shot on the edge of the box was blocked (65’), Marcin Kaminski flicked an Ouwejan free-kick just past the far post (66’), then Ouwejan hit Malick Thiaw with his strike that looked to be heading on target (67’). At the other end, Sonny Kittel hit the outside of the post (68’).

That HSV chance didn’t affect Schalke’s second-half dominance. The away side pushed forward more and more in the final 20 minutes, boxing Hamburg in their own half. Johansson parried a Churlinov drive from wide (72’), then a minute later Itakura headed over from Ouwejan’s corner (73’).

Late Itakura equaliser

Just as it looked as if Schalke wouldn’t find the leveller they arguably deserved, they finally scored with three minutes to play. A second ball from a corner landed at Rodrigo Zalazar’s feet, who chipped it back into the box. Substitute Marius Bülter did brilliantly to fire a low cross in and that found Ko Itakura. The defender found the back of the net for the second consecutive game to rescue a point. Video referee Guido Winkmann checked the goal as Bülter was close to being offside, though the goal stood.

Schalke continued pressing for a winner, and fellow substitute Salif Sané dribbled through the box in the first minute of injury time, however his cross couldn’t find anyone and it ended 1-1.

Winter training camp in Belek

This game against HSV ended Schalke’s footballing year. The preparations for the second half of the season will begin on 3rd January with a training camp in Belek, Turkey. All S04 fans will be able to keep up with the club’s training camp using the hashtag #GazpromTrainingCamp.

The Royal Blues will return to Gelsenkirchen on 9th January. The first league game is exactly a week later at home to Holstein Kiel (16/1, 13:30 CET).