Foals held to goalless draw by Schalke

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s first home game in the second half of the season ended with a 0-0 draw against FC Schalke 04.

54,042 fans were at a sold-out BORUSSIA-PARK for the Saturday night Topspiel in the Bundesliga. The Foals controlled the game in the opening exchanges, but it wasn’t until the half-hour mark that they began to find gaps in the Schalke defence. The half-time whistle came at just the wrong time for Gladbach, as they were increasing the pressure on the visitors with a string of chances, but ultimately were unable to grab the opening goal. S04 improved in the second 45 and took advantage of some loose passing from Borussia to create opportunities of their own, but Jonas Omlin was on hand to ensure a share of the spoils.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Daniel Darke opted for the exact same starting line-up from the recent 4-1 win away at Hoffenheim. Jonas Omlin was between the sticks, Joe Scally, Ko Itakura, Nico Elvedi and Ramy Bensebaini made up the back four, Manu Koné partnered Julian Weigl in defensive midfield, and Jonas Hofmann, Christoph Kramer and Lars Stindl supported lone striker Marcus Thuram in attack.

With both Stindl and Koné able to overcome minor issues felt during the week, the whole squad was at Farke’s disposal, although Conor Noß, Oscar Fraulo and Yvando Borges Sanches were part of the U23s’ 3-1 win in Düsseldorf.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

27’: Itakura drives through the midfield and produces a low shot from around 20 yards that forces Fährmann into his first save.

30’: Koné has a go from distance. The Schalke goalkeeper is a little unsure about the bouncing shot and flicks it behind for a corner.

39’: An effort from Koné is heading towards the bottom corner, but a slight deflection sends it wide.

43’: Thuram is played in behind by a wonderful Kramer through ball. He seemingly only has the keeper to beat, before Jenz slides in from behind and blocks the Frenchman’s shot.

44’: A double chance just before half time. Itakura is again denied by a good reflex from Fährmann, but the rebound is fired back towards Kramer. The ball looks from his left-footed curling shot destined for the top-left corner, that is until Yoshida manages to nudge it off course with his head.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

50’: Schalke offer a threat for the first time. Skarke’s header from a corner is narrowly wide of the goal though.

52’: Another chance for the visitors. Kral squeezes a pass through to Terodde just inside the box, but Omlin is quick off his line and is able to smother the shot.

61’: Thuram collects the ball on the left and cuts across into the centre before looking for goal. He can’t wrap his foot around the shot though and it flies wide of the target.

72’: Borussia’s best moment of the half. Some neat football sees Hofmann get to the byline and cut the ball back to Stindl in the area. It’s a little behind him unfortunately, and he can only dig out a shot that clears the crossbar.

85’: A cross from the right is headed on goal by Frey, but it’s well held by Omlin.

90+2’: Skarke unleashes a venomous strike from 25 yards that requires two strong hands from the Borussia no. 1 to push the ball away.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Omlin – Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Weigl (60‘ Plea), Koné (89’ Neuhaus) – Hofmann, Kramer, Stindl – Thuram (89’ Wolf) // Unused: Olschowsky, Friedrich, Jantschke, Lainer, Netz, Ngoumou

Schalke: Fährmann – Brunner (78’ Aydin), Yoshida, Jenz, Uronen (78’ Ouwejan) – Balanta (59’ Drexler), Krauß, Kral, Kozuki (65‘ Frey), Skarke – Terodde (65’ Bülter) // Unused: Schwolow, Matriciani, Zalazar, Karaman

Attendance: 54,042 (sold out)

Yellow cards: Weigl, Hofmann – Balanta, Jenz, Kozuki

Referee: Deniz Aytekin