Schalke back on song
Gelsenkirchen - FC Schalke 04 responded in style to Matchday 26's defeat away in Nuremberg to ease to a 3-0 win over 1899 Hoffenheim.
Quality tells
After a goalless first half, Marco Höger broke the deadlock after a quick counter-attack, before goals from Raffael and Teemu Pukki sealed the victory.
The home side had the bit between the teeth from the off at the Veltins Arena, with 1899 goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes doing well to prevent Farfan reaching Atsuto Uchida’s inviting cross, before Michel Bastos drilled a free-kick wide of the target and Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck denied Farfan with a superb sliding challenge.
In the second period Schalke continued to probe and eventually made the breakthrough after a Hoffenheim attack broke down. Höger started and finished an excellent move with a classy finish, before Raffael steered home a second minutes later, and with that the result was effectively settled.
Hoffenheim’s players were visibly rattled after conceding the two goals and substitute Pukki took his chance to add his name to the scoresheet. The Finn fired home from Raffael’s pass to give the home home side a more than satisfactory return to league action after the international break.
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