Schalke initially impressed after the early sending-off, then remained calm after falling behind against visitors who, although better, made too little of their numerical advantage. In the closing stages, the hosts threw everything forward and were rewarded with the equaliser. A draw at the end is quite deserved.

Schalke are positioned with all their men around their own penalty area. Hardly any way through for HSV! Elfadli gets to the ball again, but his shot lands directly in the arms of Heekeren.

Since the 73rd minute, Schalke have had 6 shots on goal to HSV's 1; HSV made too little of their numerical advantage.

The final phase should be intense, HSV really must leave the pitch with a win. Anything else would be a bitter disappointment.

The ball is rolling again. HSV have possession.

The stewards are collecting fireworks from the pitch, play has not yet resumed.

Hadžikadunić goes in on Sylla with a hard tackle, who doesn't find it funny at all. Both engage in some verbal exchanges and provocations, resulting in both being shown yellow cards.

The table leaders have a win probability of over 77 per cent.

Play resumes with substitutions on both sides.

It's been a rollercoaster here in Schalke. Karaman saw red right at the beginning but the decimated hosts played the more courageous football afterwards and rewarded themselves with a goal. HSV initially looked unsettled, but then grew stronger. Just before the break came the double strike; with goals in the 41st and 43rd minute, HSV turned the match around.

No Hamburg midfielder or striker has won more than half of their duels. Schalke have the league leaders fully under control in the challenges.

No further penalty area action to report at the moment, but the fans are getting involved with every tackle. There's a real atmosphere here for this floodlit thriller!

The fans have already seen four cards - one of them red - and a goal. Schalke are leading with ten men, while Hamburg are currently looking relatively toothless. It was Schalke's fifth shot that led to the 1-0, whereas Hamburg have only had one attempt. Despite being a man down, Schalke are completely dominating their visitors.

The home side need to regroup after seeing their forward sent off. Hamburg are passing the ball around, still biding their time.

It's a fast-paced start, with several small fouls already. Karaman is cautioned after a strong challenge on Meffert in midfield. He caught him right on the ankle there.

The ball is rolling in Gelsenkirchen.

As was the case on Matchday 29, other results have gone in favour of promotion-hunting Hamburg this weekend, and a win over Schalke would all but guarantee the Red Shorts' chances of top-flight football next season. On top of that, they will be out to get back to winning ways after last week's defeat to Braunschweig, as Hamburg have not lost twice in a row this season.

Skilful playmaker Immanuel Pherai is starting for the first time since Matchday 18 (when Schalke beat Köln 1-0 in mid-January), after which he was injured for a longer period and then only used as a substitute.

Before today's match, Selke has been absent (not in the squad or on the bench) from Hamburg's starting line-up ten times this season, and Hamburg went unbeaten ion every occasion (six wins, four draws).

Back in the team for HSV are three previously injured key players with Hadžikadunić, Meffert and Reis, plus Pherai and Königsdörffer are in the starting line-up. Out are captain Schonlau, Karabec, Poręba, Richter and top scorer Selke (all on the bench).

For Hamburg, there are five changes to the starting XI from the loss to Braunschweig. There has only been one previous occasion with more changes from match to match Hamburg a second division season (in the early phase of the 2018/19 season).

Tobias Mohr starts in a second division match for the first time since Matchday 22, when Schalke beat Karlsruhe.

The youngster is in the Schalke starting eleven for the first time since 9 February, when Schalke lost 0-1 in Cologne on Matchday 21.

Compared to the bitter defeat against bottom club Regensburg, there are three changes to Schalke's starting XI: Murkin, Grüger and Mohr come in, replacing Donkor, Barkok and Younes (all on the bench).

Fernandes - Mikelbrencis, Hadžikadunić, Elfadli, Hefti - Meffert - Pherai, Reis - Sahiti, Königsdörffer, Dompe

Heekeren - Bulut, Schallenberg, Kaminski, Murkin - Grüger, Seguin - Aydin, Karaman, Mohr - Sylla

"At the start of the week, we analysed and reviewed the match against Braunschweig. But then we quickly shifted our focus completely to the upcoming match and have trained intensively and well this week as well."

"This is a great match, two big clubs facing each other. Hamburg have a lot of quality on the pitch, we are preparing for a strong opponent. After the last match, we want to send a signal."

Schalke celebrated their last German title in 1958 with a 3-0 final victory against Hamburg in Hannover.

In the first leg of the current season, Schalke equalised after being 0-2 down at half-time. For Hamburg, it was the last match under Steffen Baumgart, after which Merlin Polzin took over.

Schalke have been without a win in six competitive matches against Hamburg, the last three points came in a 2-0 home victory in the Bundesliga in November 2017 under manager Domenico Tedesco. Schalke finished as runners-up that season, while HSV were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time.

Hamburg have never lost in their previous five second-division matches against Schalke, collecting eleven points (three wins, two draws). Hamburg have won both away fixtures in Gelsenkirchen.

In the Bundesliga, there have been exactly 100 encounters between Schalke and Hamburg (38 wins each), and now they're meeting for the sixth time in the Bundesliga 2.

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 30 fixture between FC Schalke 04 and Hamburger SV.