Highlights
D. Brych
90'
+ 9
Schalke off the bottom!
What a result for Schalke! The Royal Blues produce a stunning performance to climb off the bottom and into the relegation play-off spot, overnight hours at least. For once, they'll be cheering on local rivals Dortmund in Stuttgart tomorrow. Hertha are now propping up the rest of the table, with six rounds of fixtures to go.
Full-time
90'
+ 2
Pick that out!
Schalke arguably save the best for last as Kaminski steps up to whip a free-kick over the Hertha wall and beyond Christensen's despairing dive. What a performance from Reis's team!
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.
90'
+ 1
Yellow card
90'
Time added on
Eight minutes is the call after all those injury-related stoppages.
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.
87'
Off the line!
Richter puts his body quite literally on the line this time to stop Karaman adding a fifth Schalke goal. Superb clearance!
87'
Yellow card
86'
Yellow card
85'
Hertha pull one back!
It ain't over until the Old Lady sings, apparently! Hertha break with Jovetic, who sends Lukebakio on his way. Ngankam receives the ball in the box and slips it to his left for Richter to turn home on the stretch. He takes a Matriciani fingernail to the eyebrow in the process, drawing blood.
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.
83'
Just 21 goals before today for Schalke
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
4
2.22
0.77
4
Goals
78'
Schalke stretch their lead!
Surely three points in the bag! Matriciani picks off Serdar's pass in the Schalke half to kick-start a counter. Terodde lays it off and Latza sends an inviting pass over the top for Bülter. Christensen comes a long way out of his box, but Schalke's top scorer gets there first to lift the ball up and into the unguarded Hertha goal for his ninth of the campaign.
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.
77'
No faulting Hertha's effort levels
Distance run (km)
9
9.3
Alex Kral Stevan Jovetić
77'
Fastest runner (km/h)
33.26
33.96
Kenan Karaman Marc-Oliver Kempf
71'
No choice for Reis
Uronen replaces the injured Brunner for what will be Schalke's final change. Die Knappen will be in trouble, if anyone picks up an injury, having already used up all their allotted substitution windows.
71'
Substitution
70'
Yellow card
Ngankam catches Karaman on the shin, just when it looked like the break was on. The Hertha forward knew his team were a little too open, there.
70'
Yellow card
69'
Brunner hurt
Schalke's right-back lands really awkwardly on his left shoulder after contesting an aerial challenge with Ngankam. The hosts will be forced into another change, here...
66'
Shoring up the midfield
A more defensive change for Schalke as Krauß replaces Drexler.
65'
Substitution
63'
Tame!
Ngankam and Lukebakio combine for a shooting opportunity for Kanga, but it's his first touch and he scuffs at his shot from inside the box. The Hertha sub is kicking himself!
62'
Substitution
60'
Over!
Schalke go straight on the attack, with Terodde winning a free-kick in a central position, 20 yards or so from goal. Bülter takes aim, but sends his effort a few yards over the crossbar.
59'
Big save!
Schwolow has to make a very late call as a teasing ball is clipped in towards Tousart in the box. The Hertha midfielder doesn't get a touch as Schalke's substitute keeper dives to his right to push the cross to safety.
55'
Attacking change
Ngankam, with two goals in his last four outings, replaces Dardai. That's a forward for a defender, moments after Schalke's Kaminski threatened a fourth goal, heading a Drexler corner wide.
55'
Substitution
53'
Finishing at its finest
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
3
1.7
0.4
3
Goals
49'
A third Schalke goal!
Karaman does step up! Schalke attack at break-neck speed after a promising Hertha move is snuffed out. Karaman leads a three-on-two, knocking the ball past his marker and racing in on goal, before cutting the ball across for Terodde to sweep in from close range. Reis could not have asked for a better response!
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.
46'
Enforced change
Another blow for Schalke. Skarke - who scored one and made another in the first half - suffered an ankle injury at the end of the first half and can't continue. Karaman is his replacement - he has to step up.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 5
Substitution
45'
+ 5
Half time! Schalke 2-1 Hertha
High drama in the Bundesliga basement. Schalke made a dream start, but Jovetic's fine finish on the stroke of half time gives Hertha every chance of getting something from the game.
Half-time
45'
+ 4
Jovetic halves the deficit!
Well, well - that makes Schwarz's job a tad easier. Lukebakio bides his time on the right-hand side of the area, before drifting in a cross. There doesn't appear to be much wrong with the clearance, but Jovetic is first to the loose ball and shows all his experience to dig out a shot that whistles past Schwolow into the back of the net.
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.
45'
+ 1
Time added on
Into the first of four added minutes. A massive team talk is needed from Schwarz, you feel...
44'
Schalke the hot favourites to get the win
Schalke the hot favourites to get the win
0'
39 %
Now
91 %
40'
Proceed with caution
Boateng's booked after catching Latza when winding up for a shot following corner. No malice, there.
40'
Yellow card
36'
Fährmann injured
That's a blow for Schalke - Fährmann seems to have pulled something in his groin. He's been so important for the Royal Blues since being reinstated as No.1 earlier this year. Ex-Hertha stopper Schwolow is on.
36'
Substitution
32'
Half chance!
Bülter on the right this time with a clipped ball across the six-yard box. Drexler tries to steer it on goal, but his diving header is into the side netting.
32'
Ice-cold Schalke
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
2
0.75
0.23
2
Goals
32'
Goal attempts
2off target
3on target
3off target
1on target
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.
28'
Denied!
Marton Dardai makes a crucial sliding challenge to stop Bülter's low ball into the box from finding the feet of Latza. Hertha still haven't recovered from conceding those two early goals.
27'
Attacking change
Cigerci is not a happy bunny as he makes way. He's clearly not injured, so that's a tactical decision from Schwarz to replace him with the more attack-minded Serdar.
26'
Substitution
23'
Terodde!
Lovely play from Schalke involving Kaminski and Bülter. Terodde takes aim from 20 yards, but Christensen is equal to it and parries clear.
There's always next week
© Imago
21'
What a save!
Jovetic catches his shot from a half-cleared free-kick really well, but Fährmann is able to touch it onto his left-hand post. He saw it late, too. Superb goalkeeping by the Schalke veteran.
19'
Chance!
Jovetic sends Lukebakio in behind the Schalke defence, but Matriciani does enough to put him off and the delayed shot goes wide. The flag then goes up for a marginal offside against Hertha's leading man.
16'
On the up
As things stand, Schalke are heading out of the bottom two - but there is a long, long way to go...
14'
Schalke double their lead!
The Royal Blues cannot have dreamed of a better start! Drexler releases Skarke into space down the right wing and he curls a pinpoint cross into the middle for the unmarked Bülter to nod home from close range!
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.
Milestone goal
© INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images
10'
Hertha pressing
Schalke struggled to clear a Hertha attack - not helped by a couple of mis-kicks from defenders. The penalty area is crowded but the visitors have a couple of chances to shoot from the edge of the area, one of which is deflected out for a corner. Nervy stuff from the home side at the back there.
8'
Jovetic hits the post!
Fährmann comes off his line to try and punch a corner clear but he doesn't make a clean connection. The ball comes to Jovetic at the back post but his instant header hits the outside of the post and bounces wide.
7'
Jenz clears
Richter launches a long throw into the Schalke box, Tousart flicks it on but Jenz hoofs the ball clear.
5'
Massive boost
Massive boost
1'
39.5 %
Now
65.4 %
4'
What a goal!
Oh my! Schalke get off to the perfect start as Tim Skarke drives forward from midfield, gets the better of a couple of defenders on the edge of the area and curls an absolute beauty into the top corner!
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.
2'
Burst ball
You don't see that very often! There's a brief break in play as the match ball has burst. A replacement is quickly found though.
1'
Here we go!
Hertha get the ball rolling at the Veltins-Arena!
Kick-off!
Not long now!
The teams are out on the pitch, pre-match rituals are under way.
Something has to give!
Hertha have the worst away record in the division (five points) and are winless in 10 on the road. Schalke are the worst team at home (13 points). Not the most attractive pair of stats, but expect form to go out of the window in what's shaping up to be a wild ride to the finish line...
The state of play
Schalke are currently bottom on 21 points. Hertha are a point better off in 17th, with Stuttgart - who host Dortmund tomorrow - on 23 points in the relegation play-off spot. Then come Bochum (26pts) and Hoffenheim (28pts). Needless to say, a win for either side today would be HUGE!
Return of the Prince
Boateng made 60 competitive appearances for Schalke across the 2013/14 and 2014/15 campaigns. He's largely been a fringe player in this his final season before hanging up his playing boots, but makes his third straight start today.
Terodde time?
Terodde hit 30 goals in as many Bundesliga 2 games last season, but has just three in 27 Bundesliga appearances so far this term. His last strike came in mid-November - will the departing Schalke striker add to his tally on his first start since February?
0:11
Watch: Inspecting the green baize
0:08
Watch: Inside the Veltins-Arena
More on those teams
Maya Yoshida misses out for Schalke, so it's a centre-back pairing of Marcin Kaminski and the returning Moritz Jenz. Danny Latza and Dominick Drexler come into the midfield, while Simon Terodde is preferred to Sebastien Frey as the lone striker. As for Hertha, right winger Marco Richter returns at the expense of Jonjoe Kenny and Stevan Jovetic gets the nod over Wilfried Kanga in attack.
Schalke starting line-up
Fährmann (c) - Brunner, Kaminski, Jenz, Matriciani - Kral, Latza - Skarke, Drexler, Bülter - Terodde
Schalke subs
Schwolow, Ouwejan, Greiml, Uronen, Krauß, Zalazar, Tauer, Karaman, Frey
Hertha starting line-up
Christensen - Uremovic, Kempf, Dardai - Richter, Tousart, Cigerci, Boateng, Plattenhardt (c) - Lukebakio, Jovetic
Hertha subs
Ernst, Rogel, Kenny, Mittelstädt, Serdar, Sunjic, Niederlechner, Kanga, Ngankam
2:03
Previous meeting
"An enormous chance"
© Imago
"Plenty to play for"
Schalke's Alex Kral, who put through his own net in the defeat against Hoffenheim, called for the Royal Blues to react under the Friday night lights: “We are desperate to give [our fans] something back," the 24-year-old said. "It’s an extremely important game for us because Hertha are also fighting for survival. We need to show a reaction. We’ve still got seven games to go and there are plenty of points to play for."
2:03
Hertha huff and puff
2:03
Last time out
Colossal encounter
Relegation six-pointers do not get any more intriguing than this. Bottom-placed Schalke welcome equally-troubled Hertha (just one point ahead in the standings) and the stakes couldn't be any higher as we near the end of the current campaign.