Season disappointment Schalke 04 has prevented another setback in the Bundesliga, but still falls short of expectations. The runners-up took a 1-1 (0-0) win at TSG Hoffenheim on the 13th matchday, but still only ranked eleventh. The Kraichgauer are in sixth place.
The Croatian vice world champion Andrej Kramaric scored with a penalty kick for the Hoffenheim team (59th). Nabil Bentaleb used a penalty kick to equal the score (73.).
In Sinsheim the youngest Bundesliga coaches faced each other. Julian Nagelsmann (Hoffenheim/31) and Domenico Tedesco (Schalke/33) completed the training course together. In 2016, the former TSG junior trainer Tedesco was the course leader, Nagelsmann finished second.
The 30,000 spectators in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena first saw clear hosts setting the tone. The Swiss Steven Zuber first tested Schalke’s goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann (2.), then the World Cup participant hit the crossbar (5.). There was nothing to see of the Schalkern in the initial phase of the offensive.
In the 11th minute, the guests who were missing Breel Embolo, Cedric Teuchert, the ex-Hoffenheimer Mark Uth and Steven Skrzybski showed that they were present after all. Guido Burgstaller had the lead on his feet, but was defeated by TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Shortly afterwards, the Austrian caused another head injury (14th).
Afterwards, the Hoffenheimers, who had to get by without Benjamin Hübner, Harvard Nordtveit, Nadiem Amiri, Lukas Rupp and Dennis Geiger, took command again. Kerem Demirbay and Joelinton missed the great double chance (28th), they both failed because of Fährmann. On the opposite side it was again Burgstaller, who missed the gate after one corner (29th).
Referee Robert Kampka (Mainz) caused a stir shortly before the break. At first the Referee imposed a penalty kick on Hoffenheim, after the video study he took this decision back (43.).
At the beginning of the second run not much happened. That changed Kampka again. This time, the impartial took a penalty shot in favour of the TSG after Bastian Oczipka’s handball – and stayed the course. I’m sure Kramaric transformed. Shortly afterwards, Suat Serdar missed the chance to equalize (67th).
A little later there was a penalty for Schalke. Ermin Bicakcic had brought down Daniel Caligiuri. Bentaleb didn’t ask twice. In the 77th minute, the scorer almost scored another goal from a distance.
