Freiburg 4-0 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Höler (7'), 2-0 Sallai (pen. 22'), 3-0 Günter (50'), 4-0 Günter (74')

Freiburg came into the game following back-to-back defeats against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Arminia Bielefeld, but sensed a chance to bounce back at home to the league’s bottom side. Ermedin Demirovic fired off the first warning sign in just the third minute, with a stunning volley from the edge of the box that Ralf Fährmann did well to save, but it was not long before the hosts did get their goal. Baptiste Santamaria found space down the right wing and his low, teasing cross to the back post was prodded over the line by Lucas Höler. Freiburg remained on top and Roland Sallai gave them the extra cushion their dominance deserved, converting from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Sallai then squandered a close-range volley from Günter’s cross, but the Black Forest side were good value for their lead at the half-time break.

Schalke won for just the second time this season against Augsburg last week, but they carried very little threat going forward here – the shot count at full-time was 13-4 in Freiburg’s favour - and the outcome of the game was put beyond all doubt in the 50th minute. Günter robbed Suat Serdar of the ball in midfield, before striding forward and drilling a precise shot into the bottom corner. Jonathan Schmid very nearly added to the scoreline shortly afterwards with a vicious free-kick from 25 yards out, but Fährmann was alert to tip it over the bar. Günter grabbed another goal in the closing stages, smashing in his second long-range goal of the day to seal a fully deserved win. Schalke, with just 13 points on the board from 29 games, will be relegated on Tuesday if they lose their Matchday 30 encounter away to Bielefeld.

SCF Freiburg Freiburg - S04 Schalke Schalke

Günter brace as Freiburg push Schalke closer to relegation