Highlights
B. Brand
90'
+ 8
A point apiece!
Three straight goalless draws for Schalke, who stay bottom, but plenty of positives on show once again. Wolfsburg just weren't at the races.
Full-time
90'
+ 6
Bülter!
Bülter turns towards goal and lets fly from a good 25 yards, forcing Casteels into a diving save. Is that the final chance?
90'
+ 4
Up and over
Zalazar hits the ensuing free-kick firm and true, but it's always rising.
90'
+ 4
Frustrations showing
Two Wolfsburg bookings in quick succession sum up the visitors' performance today.
90'
+ 1
Added time
Into the first of SEVEN added minutes, after those two offside calls and that injury to van de Ven...
89'
Win Probability
Win Probability
This Match Fact documents significant changes in the probability of victory for both teams during the course of the match. The value is based on actual match play and incorporates existing Match Facts such as Expected Goals, Skill and Set-Piece Dange
0'
25.4 %
88'
4.1 %
87'
Changes
Guilavogui's on for Arnold - not van de Ven, who appears OK to continue. Reis replaces the impressive Frey with Terodde.
87'
Substitution
87'
Substitution
84'
Heavy touch
Nmecha's played in on the Schalke goal, but his first touch is heavy and the ball goes through to Fährmann. The Wolfsburg sub is kicking himself!
82'
Man down
Van de Ven puts in a goal-saving challenge to prevent Zalazar turning Bülter's low cross towards the near post goalwards. He's hurt in the process, though, and looks in real pain...
78'
Wide!
Schalke come again with Bülter. He drifts in off the left and feeds Kral on the edge of the area, but the shot whistles wide.
76'
Disallowed goal!
Drexler collects a long ball and immediately looks for Frey in the Wolfsburg area. He controls well and thunders a sweet finish into the top corner, only for the celebrations to be cut short for an earlier offside.
75'
Kaminski!
Kaminski gets the better of Aydin and Yoshida, but not Fährmann. Tame effort in the end.
73'
Schalke change
Drexler's on for Kozuki, who continues to impress after being promoted from the Schalke reserves.
73'
Substitution
72'
Worth a go!
Nmecha goes for the spectacular following a corner, but his overhead effort is deflected wide.
71'
Pulling the strings
Distance run (km)
8.9
8.6
Rodrigo Zalazar Jakub Kamiński
66'
What. A. Save!
Incredible from Casteels - a real candidate for save of the season. Kral hooks a back-post cross into the danger zone for Jenz. He turns on a sixpence and drives goalwards, only for the Wolfsburg goalkeeper to beat the ball up and away with a strong right hand.
63'
Like-for-like change
Brunner hobbles off to make way at right-back for Aydin.
63'
Substitution
61'
Over!
Wolfsburg are almost caught out again from a Zalazar cross, but Jenz can't keep his header down.
58'
Not for the want of trying
Goal attempts
3off target
2on target
2off target
0on target
55'
Strong save!
Paredes is involved immediately, the American youngster rolling his man and playing a ball into the feet of Wind. He helps it on to Kaminski, who's denied at close quarters by Fährmann!
53'
Triple change
Kovac has seen enough - Paredes, Felix Nmecha and Lacroix are thrown into the action.
53'
Substitution
53'
Substitution
53'
Substitution
51'
Disallowed goal!
Kral's next effort sticks as he gets a toe to Zalazar's back-post cross. Wolfsburg reconvene for kick-off, but the referee has been informed of something. He goes to check the pitch-side monitor, and chalks the goal off!
50'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
48'
Over!
A let off for Wolfsburg this time as a ball across the box finds the head of Kral. He heads goalwards, but it sails just over!
46'
Wind!
Wolfsburg fly out of the traps as Wind controls a ball into the Schalke penalty area. His next touch is a hurried effort that sails over. Big chance.
Kick-off!
Goalless at the break!
© Getty Images
45'
+ 2
Substitution
Half-time
44'
Frey off target
A rush of blood from Frey, who blazes a bouncing ball comfortably off target. As well as being some way from Casteels' goal, the Schalke winter signing was also coming at it from an awkward angle.
41'
Impressive stats...
41'
41'
38'
Come-and-get-me cross
Kaminski whips a telling ball into the six-yard box. Wimmer and Wind are lurking, but neither can apply the decisive touch in front of Fährmann, who is able to gather. The relief on his face!
35'
Wolves bare teeth
There are signs Wolfsburg are beginning to get a foothold on the game as Wind tries to play Svanberg over the top. The Swedish midfielder goes to ground, but the referee is unmoved.
33'
Expected Goals
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.34
0.86
0
Goals
33'
Goal attempts
3off target
2on target
2off target
0on target
30'
Kral!
Kral gets up to meet a Zalazar corner, but can't direct his close-range header on target. Massive chance not taken!
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.
26'
Otavio intervenes
The Wolfsburg left-back gets a head to an inviting cross destined for the toe of the unmarked Frey. Kovac is furious with his side - he wants them to "wake-up!"
Max power, not enough accuracy
© Getty Images
19'
Strong hand!
Schalke living dangerously as Kral connects with a corner. He hits a volley into the ground and onto the head of Jenz, who draws a superb reaction save out of Casteels before the whistle sounds for offside.
17'
Not much in it
Possession (%)
4654
15'
Kozuki from range
A Schalke free-kick is cleared only as far as Kozuki. He takes aim from a good 25 yards, but it's straight at Casteels.
11'
Super Seb
Jenz sends a ball upfield for Zalazar. He has the legs on Bornauw, who stretches every sinew to put in a superb recovery challenge. Get that wrong, and that's a red card.
9'
Off the post!
Arnold sends Fährmann the wrong way from the spot, but his penalty cannons back off the upright. Huge let-off for Schalke, whose fans are celebrating like their team has just scored!
8'
Penalty!
Jenz goes into the back of Wimmer in the penalty box. After a VAR review, the referee points to the spot...
6'
SituationNo penalty
ReviewFoul?
DecisionPenalty
4'
Schalke start well
Frey plays in Kozuki, who stings the palms of Casteels. Frey finds Skarke in the box with Schalke's next attack, but a defender slides in to block the ball behind for a corner that comes to nothing. Great energy from the hosts in the early stages!
2'
Stand up
The Schalke shirts are sporting the #STEHTAUF slogan today, the club's motto for their anti-discrimination campaign.
1'
Here we go!
Bottom against seventh - enjoy the ride, folks!
Kick-off!
It's time!
The Schalke players form a huddle, after an impecabbly observed minute's silence. Can they get the result they so desperately need?
Moment's reflection
There will be a minute's silence ahead of the Matchday 20 fixtures in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 this weekend in honour of the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, where over 20,000 have lost their lives. Players will also wear black armbands
Advantage Wolfsburg?
Wolfsburg are unbeaten in six competitive meetings with Schalke, winning four. How Schalke could do with breaking the cycle in their predicament!
0:15
Watch: Inside the Veltins-Arena
Contrasting fortunes
Schalke have collected just eight points from 10 matches at home this season - that's a league low. Wolfsburg have picked up 14 points in 10 games on the road, putting them fifth in the Bundesliga's away table.
Reis's view
"We were conceding too many goals at the start of the year and weren't scoring any ourselves. We've now kept two clean sheets in a row, but failed to score ourselves. We want to continue remaining solid in defence and take our chances at the other end of the pitch. Our supporters can be decisive for us. They can help influence the team's performance and impact our attackers in front of goal."
Kovac's view
"Schalke aren't done yet. They're still plenty of games to go. We have to prove ourselves again in front of 60,000 fans, who are really going to give their all. If we do well and reach the same intensity levels as we did against Bayern, the mood can change very quickly. We have to try and hold our own from the outset and take our early chances, just like we did in our first couple of games this year."
Schalke team news
Two changes for Schalke tonight as Thomas Reis seemingly looks to inspire more attacking success. Zalazar is back into midfield for the more defensively minded Balanta, while Frey leads the attack instead of Terodde. No surprise to see Ralf Fährmann again in goal having kept two clean sheets in two appearances this season, nor Maya Yoshida in the middle of defence - having started every match this season.
Wolfsburg team news
It's a back four again for Wolfsburg tonight, as expected, after an experiment with a back three backfired last weekend against Bayern. Lacroix and Nmecha are out of the side, while Gerhardt and Kaminski (who scored against Bayern after coming off the bench) are brought in by Niko Kovac.
Schalke starting XI
Fährmann - Brunner, Yoshida (c), Jenz, Uronen - Kral, Krauß - Kozuki, Zalazar, Skarke - Frey
Schalke subs
Schwolow, Aydin, Balanta, Bülter, Drexler, Karaman, Matriciani, Ouwejan, Terodde
Wolfsburg starting XI
Casteels - Baku, Bornauw, Van de Ven, Otavio - Arnold (c), Gerhardt - Wimmer, Svanberg, Kaminski - Wind
Wolfsburg subs
Pervan, Lacroix, Cozza, F. Nmecha, Guilavogui, Paredes, Waldschmidt, L. Nmecha, Marmoush
2:03
Watch: Previous meeting: Wolfsburg 0-0 Schalke
History on Wolfsburg's side
Schalke haven't managed to beat the Wolves in any of their last six competitive encounters, drawing two and losing four, while they haven't scored at all in the four most recent assignments.
ist seit 6 Pflichtspielen (5-mal Bundesliga und einmal DFB-Pokal) sieglos gegen Wolfsburg (2 Remis, 4 Niederlagen) und erzielte in den letzten 4 Pflichtspielen gegen den VfL nicht einmal ein Tor.
Wolfsburg dip
The Wolves' form curve is heading in the opposite direction. Niko Kovac's side began 2023 with thumping victories over Freiburg (6-0) and Hertha (5-0) but have lost their last three in all competitions, with league defeats against Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich sandwiching a DFB Cup last-16 elimination by Union Berlin.
Schalke improving
After 10 defeats in their 11 outings prior to Matchday 18, the Royal Blues come into this one with growing confidence after earning clean sheets in their last two matches, the 0-0 draws against Cologne and Gladbach.
0:30