Werder Bremen 2-1 Schalke
Goal: 1-0 Füllkrug 30' (assist: Weiser), 2-0 Ducksch 76' (assist: Weiser), 2-1 Drexler 89' (assist: Polter)

Schalke finished two points clear of Bremen in last season's Bundesliga 2 standings, but have been looking up at the Green-Whites ever since. The Royal Blues sought to redress the balance early in the first half as Marius Bülter tested Jiri Pavlenka's reactions, before Tomas Kral's deflected goal was ruled out for offside upon VAR review. After Simon Terodde flashed a header wide, Bremen forged ahead as uncapped German forward Füllkrug applied the finishing touch to Mitchell Weiser's driving run and audacious cut-back. Terodde headed against the woodwork and Marvin Ducksch fired narrowly wide at the end of a pulsating first half.

Bremen were rocked on the hour when Füllkrug was withdrawn due to injury. Schalke's Marius Bülter followed the Bremen talisman down the tunnel soon after, but not before Terodde's inventive scissor-kick had forced a flying stop from Pavlenka. The Werder custodian was at it again moments later, diving full stretch to beat away a Kral piledriver. Just as in the first half, the Green-Whites took full advantage of Schalke's struggles in front of goal. Weiser slipped a pass into the box for Ducksch, who showed tremendous composure to chip the advancing Alexander Schwolow for 2-0. A strong double save denied Ducksch his brace, before Schalke substitute Dominik Drexler reduced the arrears in the 89th minute - but Werder held on.

SVW SV Werder SV Werder Bremen - S04 Schalke 04 FC Schalke 04

Füllkrug strikes again as Werder sink Schalke