Bülter brace helps Schalke win 4-1 in Villingen

Zalazar debut and Fährmann’s return

Head coach Dimitros Grammozis made four changes to the team that won 3-0 away at Holstein Kiel last time out in the league. Rodrigo Zalazar, who joined a few days ago from Eintracht Frankfurt, replaced Blendi Idrizi as an attacking midfielder.

Ralf Fährmann returned in goal after missing the first two league games due to testing positive for Covid-19. He took Michael Langer’s place, with the Austrian missing out having suffered a mild concussion in training this week.

The other two changes were also down to enforced absentees. Mehmet Can Aydin came in for Reinhold Ranftl, who didn’t travel due to a cold. Malick Thiaw, who turned 20 on the day of the game, is also suffering with a minor thigh problem. His spot in the defence was taken by Dries Wouters.

Plavci cancels out Bülter’s opener

After a cagey opening 10 minutes, in which Villingen’s Nico Tadic (6‘) had the first shot of the game from range, Schalke began to take control of proceedings. With 15 minutes played, Rodrigo Zalazar curled over the bar from the edge of the box. The visitors then took the lead through Marius Bülter. After a one-two with Dominick Drexler, he got in behind and slotted home past goalkeeper Andrea Hoxha (17’).

Less than two minutes later, Simon Terodde could have made it 2-0. Somewhat surprisingly given his recent form, he couldn’t beat Hoxha from close range and Patrick Peters cleared the danger from the original save. Hoxha was again in the action soon after, parrying a shot from Bülter.

Almost completely against the run of play, Villingen then found an equaliser. Leon Albrecht was played in behind the Schalke defence and he squared it for Nedzad Plavci, who couldn’t miss from two yards (31’). The fifth-tier side gained confidence from this goal, threatening more often for the remainder of the first half. The only notable moment before the break was another Bülter effort, which was saved (41’).

Two-quick goals seal the win

The first opportunity in the second half was for the hosts. Goalscorer Plavci got on the end of a long ball, and pulled the trigger from a tight angle. Ralf Fährmann let the shot slip through, but comfortably gathered it before it got close to crossing the line (47’). Two minutes later, Rodrigo Zalazar introduced himself to his new fans in some style. From an Ouwejan corner, Terodde set it back for the Uruguayan to lash the ball home on his debut.

Schalke’s perfect start to the second half was then made even better. Drexler again assisted Marius Bülter for his second of the day (51’). Despite the two-goal deficit, Villingen kept fighting. Erich Sautner chipped one just onto the roof of the net for the home side (55’).

The final third of the game was much quieter, with plenty of substitutes coming on for Schalke. One of those was Yaroslav Mikhailov, who found the bottom corner with a left-footed drive for S04’s fourth and final goal of the afternoon (79’).

Home game against Aue, draw on 5th September

The draw for the second round will be made on Sunday, 5th September (18:30 CEST). Prior to that, FC Schalke 04 will be back in league action at home to FC Erzgebirge Aue at the VELTINS-Arena on Friday, 13th September (18:30 CEST).