FC Schalke 04 remain without a win in the twelfth game in a row. Against promoted Union Berlin it was enough for the Gelsenkirchener after at least four defeats at least to win a point.
FC Schalke 04 did not find the way out of the crisis with the weakening promoted Union Berlin and set their negative record of twelve games without a win. Against the iron team, who have been victorious for seven games now, coach David Wagner’s team only made a happy 1-1 draw on Sunday and is still the worst team in the Bundesliga since the restart after the Corona break. Robert Andrich (11th minute) put the hosts in the lead. Jonjoe Kenny (28th) equalized for Schalke and thus at least ensured the first Schalke point win since the restart.
“We would have liked to take three points with us. In every game we make a small mistake that leads to the goal, and then you run back afterwards. We found the game better afterwards,” said Schalke interim captain Daniel Caligiuri after the game at Sky.
Union was able to widen the gap to relegation rank by four points and is slowly approaching the big goal of staying in the league. Schalke no longer has to worry with 38 points. However, the performance in the stadium at the Alte Försterei was again far too little for their own international demands.
Both teams knelt before the kick-off as a sign against racism on the middle circle – referee Tobias Stieler also joined the action with his team.
Uncertainties on both sides
The uncertainty after the failures was evident in both teams. This time, the Unioners even had clearly audible support from around 30 fans, who sang eagerly in small groups with the correct Corona distance behind the stands, but outside the narrow stadium area. The police present did not intervene.
Schalke coach Wagner rebuilt tactically and offered Salif Sané as a replacement for the suspended Weston McKennie as a clearer in front of a chain of four. Union acted more aggressively than usual. Anthony Ujah (9th), who was in second place alongside Sebastian Andersson, headed just over the goal. A little later, the Nigerian used a mistake by Juan Miranda for submission to Andrich, who scored his first Bundesliga goal. Bitter for the midfield clearer who returned after the yellow-red ban: Later he saw his tenth yellow card and will be absent from 1. FC Köln next Saturday.
Schalke with defensive gaps and offensive weaknesses
Union led for the first time in a game after the Corona break. And that was good for the Iron. Andersson (13th), Florian Hübner (15th) and Ujah (24th) had the best chance of increasing. The gaps in the Schalke defensive were serious. Schalke did not have a real chance of scoring in the first half and was still equalized – and even outnumbered. When Rabbi Matondo was treated badly, Union showed unusual passivity in the whole cover. Kenny pulled away and hit the corner exactly.
Union withdrew more in the second half. Obviously, one point was too important for the iron people to take further risks. Schalke could not use the growing excess weight for compelling actions. The lack of concept of the guests almost punished Keven Schlotterbeck (87th), but goalkeeper Alexander Nübel prevented the second Berlin goal.
Schalke striker looked resigned after the game. “The whole team is a bit desperate at the moment,” said the Augsburg loan after the final whistle at Sky. His coach David Wagner said: “I totally agree with the fight we offered today.”
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