Asllani and Lemperle sink Schalke despite late Adamu-led fightback
A Fisnik Asllani goal - following a mistake by Loris Karius, who would later be forced off through injury - and a well-worked Tim Lemperle strike put Hoffenheim two up before the interval, and despite a spirited and resolute second-half Schalke response capped by Junior Adamu's late strike, the hosts held on for a hard-fought 2-1 win.
Hoffenheim 2-1 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Asllani 10’, 2-0 Lemperle 26’ (assist: Asllani), 2-1 Adamu 81’
Hoffenheim made just one change to the side that drew with Crystal Palace in the Europa League in London on Thursday, with Vladimír Coufal returning in place of Natnael Abraha. Schalke, buoyed by a huge travelling support, made three adjustments: a fit-again Dejan Ljubičić started for the first time in two months, while Robin Gosens and Soufiane El-Faouzi also returned after injury.
Karius error gifts Hoffenheim the lead
The hosts were quickest out of the blocks, Lemperle forcing an early save, before Schalke responded through Kenan Karaman and Ljubičić. It was Hoffenheim who struck first, though, and in bizarre fashion too: goalkeeper Loris Karius attempted a low pass out from the back, but instead found the onrushing Asllani, who guided the ball into an empty net to make it 1-0 after ten minutes.
Lemperle doubles the advantage
Schalke continued to carve out chances through Adil Aouchiche and Gosens without reward, only for Hoffenheim to score again in the 26th minute. A neat one-two between Asllani and Lemperle sent the latter player clear, and he slotted confidently past Karius for 2-0. Hoffenheim went in at the break in control, although Schalke had looked dangerous in patches and could point to a competitive first-half showing.
Karius and Gosens forced off
Early in the second half, Karius saved from Asllani but, as Gosens slid in to clear the rebound, he unfortunately caught his own goalkeeper in the face. Both players required lengthy treatment and neither could continue: Kevin Müller replaced the former Liverpool man in goal, with Vitalie Becker coming on for Gosens.
Adamu pulls one back
Schalke kept pressing, hitting the crossbar through El-Faouzi and testing Oliver Baumann repeatedly, racking up a season-high number of attempts on goal. The breakthrough finally came in the 81st minute: substitute Edin Džeko's header was saved by Baumann, and Junior Adamu, who had also come off the bench in the second period, swept home the rebound to make it 2-1. Hoffenheim held on through a nervy finish, with further half-chances being spurned at both ends before the final whistle sounded on a highly entertaining clash.
Man of the Match: Junior Adamu
Introduced in the 70th minute, Adamu made an immediate impact, first seeing his goalbound shot deflected wide for a corner before later reacting quickest to turn home the rebound from Džeko's header and give Schalke a route back into the match. The goal ended a run of exactly 500 goalless competitive minutes for the Royal Blues and was enough to see Adamu voted Man of the Match.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Hoffenheim 2.28 - Schalke 2.81
Fastest player: Adam Daghim (Hoffenheim), 36.12 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Fisnik Asllani (Hoffenheim), 27 percent
Pass efficiency: Vladimír Coufal (Hoffenheim), +3.86
Fantasy Heroes: Fisnik Asllani (Hoffenheim, 253 Points), Tim Lemperle (Hoffenheim, 189 Points), Adil Aouchiche (Schalke, 157 Points)
