Norimberk – Freiburg 0:3 (end) | Hamburg – Mönchengladbach 0:2 (end) | Hertha – Schalke 0:2 (end)
final
Hertha BSC
0:2 (0:1)
Schalke 04
Saturday 02.11.2013, 15:30 • Bundesliga
     
    Thank you for following the match with us! (17:27:47)
     
    With this win Schalke took the 5th spot from Hertha BSC – at least for now as Wolfsburg could claim the position themselves with a win in Frankfurt later today!
     
    Schalke 04 defended their small lead patiently in the second half. Hertha had several good opportunities but failed to use them for goals themselves. In the end Schalke made it 2-0 with one of their counter attacks!
     
    Game over.
     
    90+4
    Goal for Schalke 04!

    Schalke make everything clear with a counter! JULIAN DRAXLER received the ball after Adam Szalai directed a back heel pass to him, went past the last defender and and from about 20 metres distance fired a flat shot into the right bottom corner to make it 2-0 for Schalke! His first goal this season!
     
    90+4
    Another shot on goal by Ronny – this time from the right side of the Schalke box – but Hildebrand is in the right corner to block the shot.
     
    90+3
    Free kick specialist Ronny with a hard flat free kick towards the right bottom corner and Hildebrand is there with a brilliant save to the side before a team mate cleared the situation for him!
     
    90+2
    Schalke defender Uchida with a clear handball just in front of the guest area.
     
    90+1
    After a cross by Ronny from the right wing a header by Ben Hatira from the right side of the Schalke box goes just over the crossbar.
     
    90
    The fourth official signals 4 minutes of extra time.
     
    90
    Hildebrand boxes the ball away with his fists after a long free kick cross by Ronny from the right wing.
     
    89
    Schalke just wait in their own half and kick every ball as far away as possible.
     
    87
    Schalke also use their last change. Defender Felipe Santana is the substitute for midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng who gets standing ovations from a part of the fans and is booed by the other part during his return to his former club Hertha.
     
    87
    Former Hertha team captain Peter Niemeyer enters the pitch for Hajime Hosogai.
     
    85
    After a long cross from the left wing Adrian Ramos gets a header from the penalty shot points but can't aim his header too well anymore in the aerial duel with Matip so that Hildebrand has just to wait in the middle of the net to catch the ball.
     
    84
    A cross by Pekarik from the right wing is blocked by Matip but Hertha have the ball already again.
     
    83
    Free kick cross by Ronny from the left half field towards the penalty shot point. A Hertha player went down in a duel with a defender and the home fans – of course – claimed a penalty shot but there wasn't really anything visible.
     
    82
    The Hertha attacks are getting a bit more desperate and they try it with long balls now.
     
    80
    Jermaine Jones enters the pitch for Roman Neustädter who is holding his left leg and seems to be injured. Both teams have one change left each.
     
    79
    Sami Allagui has the ball in the right corner of the Schalke half but when he tries to defend it he hits Fuchs in the face with his arm – free kick for the guests.
     
    78
    Schalke with their first change. Christian Clemens enters the pitch for the very active Max Meye whose best chance was the ball that hit the crossbar in the second half.
     
    77
    The following free kick by Schalke's Julian Draxler from about 22 metres distance went wide significantly. No danger for Hertha goalkeeper Kraft.
     
    76
    Sebastian Langkamp (Hertha) is booked for a tactical holding foul against Szalai. It's yellow card no. 4 for him this year.
     
    75
    The game stays completely open after 75 minutes. Hertha is investing more again which gives Schalke room for counter attacks.
     
    73
    Sami Allagui enters the pitch as substitute for Per Skjelbred. Hertha with their second change of the afternoon want to further strengthen their offense!
     
    72
    Tolga Cigerci (Hertha) gets booked for a hard sliding tackle against Neustädter. It's his first yellow card of the season.
     
    71
    Very risky header by Langkamp back to his goalkeeper from the border of the Hertha box – Szalai almost was in between.
     
    70
    2-on-3 counter by Schalke over the right wing but they aren't able to get to the Hertha area...
     
    69
    Fast attack by Hertha via the left wing but Ben Hatira was stopped in his dribbling just in front of the Schalke box...
     
    67
    Adam Szalai receives a through ball inside the Hertha box and goes down in a duel against Lustenberger. He claims to have been held by the defender but a penalty call in this situation would have been hilarious as there was barely any contact...
     
    65
    The direct counter attack almost gave Hertha the equalizer! The new man on the pitch, Ronny, tried it with a direct shot from about 18 metres distance – with his first ball contact – but the shot towards the left bottom corner was cleared by Hildebrand!
     
    64
    Completely out of the blue Schalke with the huge opportunity to decided this match! The young Max Meyer received the ball on the right wing and against two defensemen was able to get a brilliant shot on goal from 20 metres distance that hit the left part of the crossbar! Hertha goalkeeper Kraft would have had no chance at all to reach this ball!
     
    63
    Hertha use their first option for a change in this match. Fan favourite Ronny enters the pitch for Nico Schulz who started strong against his direct opponent Uchida but then invested less and less...
     
    61
    Hertha keeps the pressure high. After a nice dribbling against several opponents Ben Hatira tried it with a curler from the border of the Schalke area towards the left top corner which went wide... he just missed the perfect point when to shoot the ball...
     
    60
    Ramos receives a through ball inside the Schalke area but Höwedes clears the situation with a sliding tackle.
     
    59
    Hertha with a turnover inside the midfield but they don't play it well. First a shot by Schulz from outside the box was blocked and then the following back heel attempt by Ben Hatira from 12 metres distance was too weak to reach the goal...
     
    59
    Schalke only have one player for the offense left on the bench – Clemens.
     
    58
    Hertha head coach Luhukay signals to his bench players to warm up.
     
    57
    After a short treatment by the medical staff on the pitch Szalai is standing alone again and will return in a few moments.
     
    55
    Hajime Hosogai (Hertha) gets a yellow card for using his right elbow in the midfield in an aerial duel with Adam Szalai whoese head he hit hard.
     
    54
    After his team failed to keep the ball on the left wing, Cigerci tried it with a distance shot that went just wide past the left bottom corner of the Schalke net. There was more in for the hosts in this situation!
     
    54
    The atmosphere in Berlin is great. The home fans are seeing that their team is fighting and pay it back with loud support!
     
    52
    A cross from the right wing is deflected towards the six-yard box and the surpised Adrian Ramos who waited completely alone in front of the Schalke net wasn't able to controll the height of his header anymore! The third BIG chance for Hertha in less than 120 seconds!
     
    51
    The following corner gives Hertha an excellent scoring opportunity! A header from the six-yard box is deflected by Hildebrand and hits the crossbar!
     
    51
    Ben Hatira and Cigerci were ready to take the free kick. In the end it was Cigerci who tried it with a shot towards the left top corner that was just cleared by Hildebrand!
     
    50
    Fuchs with a push from behind against Ben Hatira, gives Hertha an excellent free kick position 20 metres in front of the net!
     
    50
    Ramos wins the duel against Höwedes on the left side of the Schalke area but the following cross is too long and the chance is gone for Hertha.
     
    49
    A corner by the hosts from the right side is kicked hard towards the near post but a defender clears the situation...
     
    48
    Schalke's Christian Fuchs with a diving header to get the ball away from his team's box, is hit by Skjelbred but nothing serious.
     
    47
    A lob by Hosogai on the right wing finds Ben Hatira but a defender can clear at cost of a throw in.
     
    46
    After a pass by Boateng who sent Max Meyer on the right wing, there was the first offside call of the second half.
     
    46
    Start of 2nd half.
     
    The teams are returning to the pitch. The majority of the around 70,000 fans in the Olympic Stadium of Berlin hope to see a better second half of the home team and goals by them.
     
    Stay tuned for the second half that start at 16.30 CET!
     
    Hertha started stronger into the match and looked fresher and more motivated but after failing to score in the first 20 minutes, they had to see how Schalke gained confidence and scored the – at this point – surprising 1-0. Afterwards Schalke defended their small lead in a clever way.
     
    1st halftime finished.
     
    45
    A last long ball is cleared by a defender with a header inside the Hertha box.
     
    44
    Uchida wasn't able to stop a through ball and Nico Schulz suddenly was through on the left outside lane but stumbled and couldn't controll the ball anymore – goal kick for Schalke.
     
    43
    Roman Neustädter (Schalke 04) sees the first yellow card of this game – and his first of the season – after a tactical foul that avoided a Hertha counter.
     
    40
    After a great individual effort by Fuchs Schalke won the puck on the left outside lane deep inside the Hertha half but despite having a 5 on 3 situation they didn't get more than a harmless shot from 18 metres distance by Szalai that was easily caught by Kraft.
     
    37
    Ben Hatira steals the ball from Schalke defender Uchida but then stumbles and falls on the back of his opponent for a free kick...
     
    36
    A distance shot by Nico Schulz is blocked by a Schalke player...
     
    36
    The corner was kicked towards the near post but a defender was able to clear the situation.
     
    36
    Skjelbred wins a corner for Hertha from the left side in a duel with Boateng.
     
    35
    After a pass by Boateng it was Max Meyer who tried to find Szalai with a through ball but he was stopped by two defenders at once before he could make the pass.
     
    34
    Until just before the 0-1 Hertha was the better team and had better opportunities but since then they look rather nervous.
     
    33
    Hertha try to take a bit speed out of the match and currently pass the ball between their defenders in their own half.
     
    32
    The home side tries it with a shot from the second row towards the left corner, easy save for Hildebrandt.
     
    31
    Cigerci attacked a Schalke defender with a hard tackling – free kick for the guests just in front of their own area.
     
    30
    A cross by the hosts from the right wing goes straight into the gloves of Hildebrandt.
     
    29
    Luck for the guests when Neustädter cleared a ball against Schulz at cost of a corner but the referees didn't see who touched the ball last...
     
    28
    Hertha try to give a fast answer. A direct free kick by Ben Hatira from the right outside lane is blocked by the defense though.
     
    26
    Goal for Schalke 04!

    And suddenly the guests are in front! After a hard corner by Aogo from the right side ADAM SZALAI was there at the near post to score the 1-0 for Schalke with a header just below the crossbar! Hertha goalkeeper Kraft didn't look good at all when he left his goal line but missed the ball!
     
    24
    Schalke are getting stronger in these last minutes and force the hosts back towards their own penalty box.
     
    22
    A brilliant dribbling by Julian Draxler through three defenders gives Schalke the first dangerous opportunity but when the youngster tried it with a shot from 20 metres distance the ball went a bit high!
     
    21
    On the other side of the pitch Schalke with a corner from the right side that is cleared easily by the home defense.
     
    20
    Hertha forward Adrian Ramos tries it with a diving header after a perfect cross from the right outside lane towards the penalty shot point but he was a) one metre offside and b) touched the ball with his left arm during the scoring attempt!
     
    19
    Schalke youngster Max Meyer pushes a Hertha defender from behind who tried to defend the ball at the own endline. Instead of a foul the referee gives a corner for the guests that stays harmless.
     
    18
    Draxler is sent with a through ball on the left outside lane but he started too early and is a few metres offside.
     
    17
    Another opportunity for Ben Hatira whose volley shot from the right side of the Schalke box hit the upper part of the side netting! Hildebrandt would have needed a great jump to save this ball!
     
    15
    Aogo tries to clear the ball just in front of the Schalke area and hits the chest of Skjelbred with a hard shot. Very painful but the Hertha player is able to continue.
     
    14
    Schalke's Draxler tries it with a shot from the second row that goes a dozen metres wide... The first "shot " for the guests.
     
    13
    It's Ben Hatira again and again. This time the Hertha midfielder received the ball close to the 18-yard box and tried it with a powerful shot towards the left bottom corner that was just cleared at cost of a corner with a great save by Hildebrandt! The first really dangerous opportunity!
     
    12
    A hard foul by Draxler from behind against Ben Hatira close to the 18-yard box. The following free kick cross gives the first shot on goal – a header that is easily cleared by guest goalkeeper Hildebrandt.
     
    11
    The first 10 minutes are over and we haven't yet seen a shot towards any of the goals.
     
    10
    Ben Hatira is sent to the right wing but his pass towards the box to Skjelbred gets his team mate into trouble and Schalke can clear the situation easily.
     
    9
    Hosogai wins the ball in a duel with Boateng inside the Schalke half but the referes gives a free kick for Schalke – very optimistic call as the Japanese midfielder clearly played the ball.
     
    7
    Hertha's Nico Schulz enters the Schalke box coming from the left side and goes down in the duel with Uchida and Fuchs but it doesn't look like there was much – if any – contact.
     
    5
    A fast combination of the Hertha offense ends with a through ball for Ben-Hatira whose cross from the endline only hits the side netting.
     
    4
    Szalai stops a high ball deep inside the Hertha half with his chest but the following pass to the right where former Hertha player Kevin-Prince Boateng waited, goes wide – throw-in Hertha.
     
    2
    There are a lot of breaks in these first minutes. Schalke try to fight their way through past the right outside lane but they are stopped by a couple of fouls by the home side.
     
    1
    The home side with the first attack, try to surprise Schalke early, but the first through ball towards the right corner of the Schalke half is too long and the situation ends with a goal kick.
     
    1
    Hertha who play in their traditional club colours blue and white have the initial ball possession while Schalke play in green and black away jersey – the colours of their home city Gelsenkirchen.
     
    1
    Game started.
     
    The teams are on the pitch and wait for the kickoff.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Hertha BSC Berlin: Kraft – Pekarik, Langkamp, van den Bergh, Hosogai – Ben-Hatira, Skjelbred, Cigerci, Schulz, Lustenberger – Ramos
    Subs: Burchert, Kobiashvili, Ndjeng, Ronny, Niemeyer, Mukhtar, Allagui

    Schalke 04: Hildebrand – Höwedes, Aogo, Uchida, Fuchs – Matip, Meyer, Boateng, Draxler, Neustädter – Szalai
    Subs: Fährmann, Hoogland, Santana, Kolasinac, Ayhan, Clemens, Jones

    Referees: Perl
     
    The match between Hertha BSC Berlin and FC Schalke 04 will be a crucial one for both sides regarding their future expectations for the rest of the season.

    Hertha BSC, who were promoted after the 2012-13 seaason from 2. Bundesliga, are playing a very successful 2013-14 Bundesliga campaign are currently are 5th in the standings with 15 points in 10 games (4-3-3 record).

    Their opponents Schalke 04 couldn't yet play to their expectations – everything but to qualify again for Champions League would be a huge disappointment for the club – and currently they are 7th with 14 points in 10 games (4-2-4) record.

    Hertha are especially strong at home where they won four of their five games and only were beaten by VfB Stuttgart (0-1) on 13 September. A four game unbeaten streak ended for the team from the German capital when they had to play in Munich against 2013 triple winners FC Bayern last Saturday (2-3).

    Schalke had a three game unbeaten series in Bundesliga against the weaker teams 1899 Hoffenheim (3-3), FC Augsburg (4-1) and Eintracht Braunschweig (3-2) before they lost the Ruhr derby at home against archrivals Borussia Dortmund (1-3) on Saturday, just four days after a bitter Champions League loss at home against Chelsea FC (0-3).

    If Hertha can continue with their home strength or if Schalke 04, who miss several players due to injuries, can make a step towards the European spots, we'll see very soon!
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 10:30 EDT / 14:30 GMT / 15:30 CET.
    Commentary by

    Dennis Mende

    Goals & lineups
    Goals: 26. Szalai, 90+4. Draxler

    Cards:   55. Hosogai (BER), 72. Cigerci (BER), 76. Langkamp (BER) – 43. Neustädter (S04)

    Hertha BSC: Kraft – Pekarik, Langkamp, van den Bergh, Hosogai (87.) – Ben-Hatira, Skjelbred (73.), Cigerci, Schulz (63.), Lustenberger – Ramos
    Subs: Burchert, Kobiashvili, Ndjeng, Ronny (63.), Niemeyer (87.), Mukhtar, Allagui (73.)
    Schalke 04: Hildebrand – Höwedes, Aogo, Uchida, Fuchs – Matip, Meyer (78.), Boateng (87.), Draxler, Neustädter (80.) – Szalai
    Subs: Fährmann, Hoogland, Santana (87.), Kolasinac, Ayhan, Clemens (78.), Jones (80.)
    Referees: Perl