Foals draw 2-2 at Schalke after conceding last-minute penalty

Borussia Mönchengladbach drew 2-2 at FC Schalke 04 on matchday 2 of the new Bundesliga season. The hosts equalised in injury time from the penalty spot after Jonas Hofmann and Marcus Thuram had turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.

62,271 fans at a sold-out Veltins-Arena saw the Foals enjoy more than 70% possession in the first half, however the home team had the better chances and went ahead through Rodrigo Zalazar in the 29th minute. Borussia improved after the break and carved out more opportunities. This led to Daniel Farke’s team turning the game around inside six minutes thanks to goals from Jonas Hofmann (72’) and Marcus Thuram (78’). Marius Bülter then scored a penalty in the third minute of time added on to rescue a point for Schalke.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Daniel Farke went with the same side that defeated TSG Hoffenheim 3-1 last weekend. Joe Scally, Ko Itakura, Nico Elvedi and Ramy Bensebaini started in defence ahead of Yann Sommer. Christoph Kramer partnered Manu Koné in the centre of midfield and Jonas Hofmann, Florian Neuhaus and Alassane Plea played in front of them. Marcus Thuram was selected as the lone striker.

Captain Lars Stindl (fascia injury) and Torben Müsel (knee) were both unavailable for selection.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

3’. First chance of the game. Ouwejan fizzes in a cross and Mohr gets a toe on it – it goes well wide.

9’: Zalazar pulls the trigger from outside the box and it flies just over the bar.

15’: Ouwejan finds Bülter in the centre. He turns and shoots, but doesn’t get enough power behind the ball. It’s an easy save for Sommer.

21’: The first real chance for the Foals. Bensebaini chips the ball through to Thuram. He holds off Thiaw and gets a shot away that slips a yard or so wide of the far post.

30’: The hosts take the lead. Zalazar has too much space and lasers a shot into the bottom corner. 1-0 to Schalke.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

51’: Zalazar has another go from range. This time his strike is comfortably over the top.

62’: A cross from Scally is fired at goal first-time by Thuram, but it’s straight at Schwolow.

65’: Bensebaini plays a brilliant ball into the run of Thuram. He’s falling backwards by the time he gets his shot away, however, and the ball sails over the crossbar.

71’: Polter’s header picks out an unmarked Larrson, who rushes the shot and can only find row Z.

72’: Equaliser! Plea nods the ball down to Thuram, who has his back to goal, but he ingeniously back-heels it into the path of Hofmann, who nutmegs Kral and finishes past Schwolow. 1-1.

77’: Two great chances in quick succession. First Koné’s scissor-kick is kept out by Schwolow, before the Schalke goalkeeper makes another fine save to deny Bensebaini’s header from the resulting corner.

78’: Borussia have turned it around. A corner from Hofmann is headed high into the air. Schwolow comes to claim it and collides with Kral, allowing Thuram to smash the loose ball home. 2-1 to Gladbach.

90+3’: A last-minute equaliser. Herrmann gives away a penalty for handball and Bülter sends Sommer the wrong way. 2-2.

MATCH FACTS

Schalke: Schwolow – Brunner, Yoshida, Thiaw, Ouwejan – Krauß, Kral (85’ Latza), Zalazar (66’ Mollet), Mohr (60’ Larsson) – Terodde (66’ Polter), Bülter

Borussia: Sommer – Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Kramer, Koné (87’ Friedrich) – Hofmann (87’ Herrmann), Neuhaus, Plea – Thuram // Unused: Sippel, Jantschke, Lainer, Netz, Reitz, Wolf, Borges Sanches

Goals: 1-0 Zalazar (29’), 1-1 Hofmann (72’), 1-2 Thuram (78’), 2-2 Bülter (90+3’, pen.)

Attendance: 62,271 (sold-out)

Yellow cards: Krauß, Ouwejan, Zalazar, Kral – Koné, Herrmann

Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen)

Nico Elvedi made his 200th Bundesliga appearance on Saturday, all in Borussia colours
Around 7,000 Gladbach fans made the trip to Gelsenkirchen
Rodrigo Zalazar opened the scoring for Schalke with a long-range shot
Jonas Hofmann equalised in the 72nd minute

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