Leon Goretzka and Leon Bailey both strike as Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen share the spoils

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Leon Bailey's first Bundesliga goal for Bayer Leverkusen cancelled out Leon Goretzka's earlier free-kick for Schalke as Die Werkself claimed a first away point of the season.

Schalke 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Goals: 1-0 Goretzka (34'), 1-1 Bailey (61')

Schalke required just a couple of minutes to get their first effort of the game away when Breel Embolo, making his first start in almost a year after ankle ligament damage, set up Weston McKennie, but the American youngster couldn’t keep his shot down. Little in the way of goal-mouth action followed bar a penalty shout from Amine Harit after a challenge from Sven Bender inside the box, but nothing was given. The home side always looked the most likely, and the Royal Blues did make the breakthrough just after 30 minutes with Leon Goretzka’s superb free-kick curling around the Leverkusen wall and past Bernd Leno into the back of the net. Die Werkself did eventually conjure up some efforts of their own as Ralf Fährmann made a comfortable save from Kevin Volland before Julian Brandt’s volley challenged the Schalke captain a bit more, but the hosts were deserved of their half-time lead.

Heiko Herrlich brought on both Leon Bailey and Kai Havertz at the break as Leverkusen looked to gain a foothold in the game, but Schalke came closest to scoring next. Leon Goretzka really should have grabbed a second when the ball dropped to him four yards out from a corner, but he fired over. The introduction of Bailey did pay off though as the Jamaican got his first ever Bundesliga goal (via a deflection) as he cut in from the right onto his left foot. Lucas Alario then thought he’d given Leverkusen the lead but it was ruled out for offside after a quick referral with the video assistant. Schalke had a couple more efforts from corners towards the end, but failed to test Leno in goal and a draw was a deserved result for both sides.

Line-ups

Schalke: Fährmann (c) – Kehrer, Naldo, Nastasic – Caligiuri, Goretzka, Mckennie (Meyer 90'), Oczipka – Konoplyanka (Di Santo 82'), Embolo (Burgstaller 54'), Harit
Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Leverkusen: Leno – Retsos, S. Bender, Tah – Bellarabi (Bailey 46'), Aranguiz (Havertz 46'), L. Bender (c), Wendell – Brandt (Kohr 81')- Volland, Alario
Coach: Heiko Herrlich

Match stats

    Leverkusen have failed to win in Gelsenkirchen for the first time in four years.The last time Schalke blew a half-time lead was against Leverkusen in April 2016.Leon Bailey scored his maiden Bundesliga goal after bagging two assists last Matchday.Leon Goretzka scored his third direct free-kick in the Bundesliga.Breel Embolo started a game for Schalke for the first time since 15 October 2016.Die Werkself already have a league-high nine different goalscorers this season.

Watch: Alario: "We had the better chances"

Click here for the Schalke vs. Leverkusen Match Centre!