Highlights
R. Hartmann
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1:18
Watch: Elversberg's celebrations at reaching the promotion/relegation play-offs
90'
+ 5
Full-time: Schalke 1-2 Elversberg
Elversberg defend third place in the Bundesliga 2 on the final matchday and will face Heidenheim in the relegation play-offs for a chance to clinch promotion to the Bundesliga. In the away match against Schalke, coach Horst Steffen's side dominated the game for long periods and scored impressive goals through Petkov and Neubauer. The Royal Blues struggled to cope with the visitors' flair and only managed a consolation goal late on through Ben Balla. In the end, the Saarlanders secure a well-deserved victory at Schalke.
Full-time
90'
+ 1
Added time
Three minutes of stoppage time in Gelsenkirchen.
90'
The visitors...
...are now consistently keeping Schalke away from their own goal as the clock runs down.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
86'
Substitution
86'
Substitution
85'
Ben Balla gets one back!
The consolation goal! Substitute Ben Balla powerfully heads Younes's corner into the net at the near post. Is there still a chance for Schalke?
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
84'
Big chance
Bulut breaks through well on the right and plays a well-measured ball into the centre to Antwi-Adjei, who shoots immediately. His shot is blocked behind for a corner.
83'
Painful
Asllani is caught painfully but unintentionally on the ankle in a challenge and requires treatment. However, the top scorer in the second division will be able to continue.
Party atmosphere
© SF / SF
81'
Corner
The home side win another corner, play it short, and then Younes's attempted pass into the visitors' penalty area goes completely awry, resulting in a goal-kick.
79'
Both teams make substitutions
The intensity on the pitch has noticeably decreased and both managers make changes just before the final 10 minutes. Rohr and Schnellbacher come on for Elversberg, whilst Donkor and Younes enter the fray for the Royal Blues.
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
78'
Substitution
78'
Substitution
75'
Relegation play-off
As Karlsruhe increase their lead to 3-0 and Cologne continue to lead 2-0, it's almost certain, with about a quarter of an hour to go, that Elversberg will face Heidenheim in the relegation play-off.
73'
Lasogga fires up the crowd
The substitute striker chases after a ball on the visitors' goal line and is celebrated for his effort. Afterwards, the striker pumps up the crowd once more, and the Royal Blues' fans are grateful for such emotional engagement.
70'
Substitution
69'
That's Schalke!
Not a good season on the pitch, but the fans remain top-class: Schalke improve on their own historic second division record set last season, also setting a new club record, having never had as many spectators as this season - not even in the Bundesliga!
67'
Lasogga coming on
Applause erupts in the arena as Lasogga puts on his shirt with the centre-forward making his second-division comeback.
63'
Huge chance!
Asllani still can't manage to score his a goal of his own this afternoon. One-on-one with Heekeren, the visiting striker's nerves fail him a bit. Heekeren's reflex save is outstanding, though. The offside flag went up, but it probably wouldn't have stood up to a VAR review.
62'
Absentee
In a potential relegation play-off first leg, Elversberg would have to do without Pinckert, who received his tenth yellow card in the first half and must therefore serve a suspension in the next match.
60'
Going for the third goal
The visitors are continuing to play forward confidently and are looking for the third goal, which would likely seal the deal here.
59'
Karlsruhe increase lead
Elversberg can slowly start checking their calendars. With Karslruhe's second goal against Paderborn, it's becoming increasingly unlikely for Elversberg to lose their third-place position.
58'
Substitution
58'
Substitution
55'
The former Schalke player
Maurice Neubauer, who scored to make it 2-0 for Elversberg, was once German champion with Schalke's U19 team alongside Leroy Sane and Fabian Reese.
52'
Tough tackle
Murkin clears out Baum with an uncompromising sliding tackle at the halfway line. That's a yellow card for the Schalke player.
51'
Good news
In Karlsruhe, the hosts have taken a 1-0 lead against Paderborn. At the moment, it looks like Elversberg will reach the relegation play-off spot.
50'
Almost a third!
Asllani is a fraction offside when receiving the pass from Şahin. The goal from the exceptional striker is disallowed.
47'
Dream restart!
The visitors increase their lead to 2-0 with the first attack of the second half! And this goal is another absolute treat! Neubauer is played in behind on the left, letting the ball bounce once before smashing it into the right corner at nearly 115 kilometres per hour. No chance for Heekeren to save it.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Shot speed
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
46'
We're back underway!
It's the visitors who get the ball rolling again for the second half here in Gelsenkirchen.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Half-time: Schalke 0-1 Elversberg
The visitors deservedly lead 1-0 at half-time in Gelsenkirchen thanks to Petkov's powerful shot, which is currently enough to secure the relegation play-off spot. In an entertaining match, both teams have had (big) chances for more goals. As Cologne are leading 2-0 against Kaiserslautern at the break, direct promotion for Elversberg currently seems unlikely. However, there are still 45 minutes to go.
Half-time
45'
+ 1
Golden chance for a second!
It's so nearly 2-0 for Elversberg seconds before the break! With a good advantage played by the referee, Asllani receives the ball perfectly at his feet in the penalty area, rounds Heekeren, then gets a tiny push from Bulut. This is enough to throw the league's top scorer off balance, and in the end, Bulut and Mohr together prevent the striker from finishing to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
45'
Sensational!
Kristof manages to parry a bullet header from Karaman from around five yards out. His lightning-quick reflexes prevent a certain 1-1 equaliser. Brilliant save from the visiting keeper, who has had a superb season.
44'
Another yellow
Pinckert slides in on Aydin about 35 yards from his own goal, making contact with both the ball and the opponent. The referee thus awards a free-kick to the home side and shows Pinckert a yellow card.
42'
Nearly a comedy of errors
Petkov breaks away on the right and delivers a dangerous cross into the middle. Schallenberg rushes in and clears the ball straight at his goalkeeper! The ball rebounds hard off Heekeren's chest and back to Schallenberg, who then clears it for a corner. A lucky escape for the Royal Blues.
40'
Nearly the leveller!
After a short corner, Bulut finds Mohr again, whose shot from the right aimed at the far corner whistles just past the post. Kristof wouldn't have got there...
38'
First booking
Le Joncour is late with a sliding tackle on Sylla. He pulls back but still catches the Schalke player roughly. Hartmann shows him a yellow card.
Hard work paying off
© IMAGO/Fabian Kleer
34'
Top scorer
Asllani, the league's leading scorer, set up the 1-0 to get his eighth assist in addition to his tally of 18 goals. He now leads the scoring chart by three goals.
31'
Superb dribbling
Murkin manages to win the ball back by intercepting a switch of play from the visitors 25 yards from goal. He charges into the penalty area with great pace, unimpeded by any Elversberg player, but his shot whistles past the right post.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
29'
Big chance
Elversberg are now pushing hard and pinning Schalke back in their own half. A cross from Baum whizzes past everyone at the far post. A second goal is coming...
27'
Asllani misses
The visitors' striker has some space on the left side of the penalty area, but his shot goes wide of Heekeren's goal.
27'
With an away victory...
...Elversberg would secure the relegation play-off spot. Paderborn, level on points before the start of today, are 13 goals worse off in terms of their goal difference and are currently being held to a 0-0 draw in Karlsruhe after the first half-hour.
25'
Schalke pressing forward
The home side want to provide an answer here, however, Karaman's shot flies over the Elversberg goal's crossbar.
23'
Mohr narrowly misses
The Schalke player's free-kick from a in off the left flank goes narrowly wide left of the Elversberg goal.
22'
Poetic for Petkov
The 24-year-old had just moments ago prevented Şahin's wonder goal due to him being in an offside position in the build-up, and now he makes amends by scoring a spectacular one himself. It's his first goal since January.
20'
This time it stands!
The visitors show no signs of being disheartened and take the lead with their next chance. Asllani dribbles past three opponents on the left side and moves towards the centre. Petkov receives his pass on the right, about 25 yards from the Schalke goal, takes a step inside and then smashes the ball powerfully under the crossbar. Heekeren is well-positioned but can't get a hand on the knuckleball. Another screamer here in Gelsenkirchen.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Shot speed
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
16'
Wonder strike disallowed!
The visitors' supposed opener is ruled out. Şahin scored a beautiful volley from 25 yards out into the top left corner. However, the goal is ruled out due to an offside position in the build-up.
16'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
15'
Goal in Cologne
Elsewhere, Cologne have taken the lead through Martel. The second place is now out of reach for Elversberg if Cologne manage to get at least a point.
11'
Good Position
Murkin catches Petkov from behind, and there's a free-kick for the visitors in a central position in front of the home team's goal. The ball sails into the penalty area, where the visitors claim a handball against Murkin. However, the referee dismisses the protests and play continues.
9'
Heekeren claims it
The Schalke goalkeeper plucks a cross from the left side out of the air in the six-yard box. However, his attempt to quickly restart play fails.
7'
Free-kick
The home side are awarded a free-kick about 35 yards out, slightly to the left of the Elversberg goal, but the delivery lacks precision and the visitors clear with ease.
5'
Mohr misses
The wide player narrowly fails to get to a high pass from Kamiński in the visitors' penalty area. It would have been offside anyway.
4'
Tricky decisions
Asllani dribbles into the visitors' penalty area and is just about fairly tackled. Afterwards, Lukas Petkov - also in the penalty area - receives a push from Murkin. But here too, the referee remains calm and awards a goal-kick.
2'
Long balls
The visitors immediately try to launch an attack and play very long balls towards Asllani. However, Bulut is on hand twice to clear with his head just inside his own half.
1'
Kick-off!
The teams have switched sides once more and Schalke get the match underway.
Kick-off!
Successful manager
© Alexander Scheuber/Bundesliga
Lasogga on the bench
Whilst Paul Seguin is not in the squad, Yassin Ben Balla and Pierre-Michel Lasogga are included in the line-up for the first time this season! Ben Balla played 41 second division matches for Darmstadt and Sandhausen, while Lasogga last played in the Bundesliga 2 for HSV six years ago. He has scored three times for Schalke's U23 team in the Regionalliga West this season.
Schalke teams news
Compared to the defeat in Düsseldorf, Schalke make two changes: Amin Younes and Christopher Antwi-Adjei drop to the bench, while Adrian Gantenbein and Mehmet Can Aydin start. Perhaps Gantenbein starting is a good omen; Schalke celebrated their last victory when last he started on Matchday 28 in a 2-1 victory over Ulm.
Elversberg team news
Elversberg's coach fields the same starting XI as last week in their comprehensive 3-0 victory against Braunschweig.
Daring to dream
© SF / SF
Schalke starting XI
Heekeren - Gantenbein, Schallenberg, Kaminski, Murkin - Bulut, Grüger - Aydin, Karaman, Mohr - Sylla
Elversberg starting XI
Kristof - Baum, Pinckert, Le Joncour, Neubauer - Fellhauer, Şahin - Damar, Zimmerschied, Petkov - Asllani
Steffen on facing Schalke
"The lads are focused and concentrated again this week. A big task awaits us. I'm certain that Schalke will definitely want to show us what they're capable of."
The Referee Team
Referee: Robert Hartmann, Assistant Referee 1: Christian Leicher, Assistant Referee 2: Alexander Sather, Fourth Official: Fabienne Michel, VAR: Guido Winkmann, VAR Assistant: Oliver Lossius
Jakob Fimpel on facing Elversberg
"It's a big opportunity for Elversberg. They're having a strong season, are strong going forward and have a close bond with one another. But primarily, it's about us performing better than we did last week against Düsseldorf."
1:39
Watch: The best of Elversberg in 2024/25
0:48
Watch: The best tifos of 2024/25
Full circle
Elversberg's manager Horst Steffen scored his last Bundesliga goal against the Royal Blues in 1997. At that time, the current coach was playing for MSV Duisburg. The then-manager of the Zebras was now-Cologne boss Friedhelm Funkel.
Deserved away victory
Schalke won the last encounter convincingly 4-1 against the then-league leaders.
No place like home
The teams have faced each other three times so far yet there has never been a home victory.
3:05
Watch: All of Asllani's goals in 2024/25
Hello and welcome!
Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 34 fixture between FC Schalke 04 and SV Elversberg.