Bundesliga relegated FC Schalke 04 impressively stopped their decline in the 2nd Bundesliga in a highly emotional game. Against 1. FC Magdeburg, who would have taken the lead in the table if they had won, the Royal Blues won 4:3 (1:2) despite a 2-0 deficit and a bitter injury to goalkeeper Marius Müller. While Magdeburg is now fourth after their first defeat of the season, Schalke moved up to twelfth place after their second win.
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Defender Silas Gnaka, who scored his first goal in his 39th competitive game for Magdeburg the previous week, scored a brace to give the guests a 2-0 lead (16th/27th). Schalke equalized through Sebastian Polter (40th) and Derry Murkin (62nd), immediately conceded the setback through Connor Krempicki (67th) and came back through Thomas Ouwejan (69th).
After the red card against Magdeburg’s Daniel Heber (77th) because of an emergency brake, Polter converted the penalty into the winning goal (79th). Magdeburg’s assistant coach André Kilian also saw red in stoppage time because of complaints.
The Schalke fans – the arena was sold out with 61,755 spectators – loudly cheered on their team during the first half hour. When the guests were within a few seconds of making it 0-3 twice in the 33rd minute thanks to Leon Bell Bell and Baris Atik, there were shrill whistles for the first time. Polter’s goal prevented the mood from changing completely.
A few minutes later, Müller had to leave the field injured and in tears. 38 year old Michael Langer came. He became part of a turbulent second half and prevented the score from being 4-4 in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
