Hertha BSC missed out on victory against FC Schalke 04 in the top game of the 2nd Bundesliga on Saturday evening. In the 0-0 draw on matchday 18, the Berliners despaired of taking advantage of their chances – and of the strong Schalke goalkeeper Loris Karius. In addition to the goalless draw, a big topic was massive fan protests directed against police violence in the run-up to the game.
With their tenth game to zero, Schalke once again underlined their defensive stability – even after the start of the second half of the season, they have only conceded a total of ten goals. Hertha, however, has to be annoyed: there would have been enough chances for a home win, and the Berliners had Schalke’s offense completely under control.
Hertha coach Leitl on “outstanding” Karius
Hertha coach Stefan Leitl spoke to his team after the game “big compliment” out of. “We were very grippy, hardly allowed any pressing situations and had a good build-up to the game“, said Leitl, who saw Karius as the decisive man among the guests: “In the end there was an outstanding keeper in the goal.” Guests coach Miron Muslic spoke of a “very, very happy point“that you’re happy to take with you.
The draw means Schalke remains a whopping nine points ahead of Berlin and defends their lead in the table. However, the “Royal Blues” failed to extend the gap to second place after the defeat of second-placed SV Elversberg. Hertha BSC is in sixth place and, despite the fourth game without a win in a row, is in contact with the top group with 29 points.
Fans in Berlin forego the atmosphere in protest
The heated atmosphere expected in this duel between two football heavyweights in front of over 70,000 fans did not arise from the start. As the Berlin Fan Aid announced, there was massive police violence at the stadium entrance before the game, which is why the active Hertha fan scene left the stadium immediately after kick-off. Shortly after the game, the police announced on the “X” portal that 31 Berlin fans and 21 police officers had been injured in an altercation at the stadium entrance.
The Schalke fans showed solidarity with the protest and gave up any support, so that the top game in the second division was characterized by a strange atmosphere. At times there were chants of denigration against security forces from the stands, and only in the second half were there chants again.
Herthas Leitl has to change early
Hertha took command on the pitch at the beginning, with offensive top performer Fabian Reese initially sitting on the bench. Opportunities from Marten Winkler (7th) and Michael Cuisance (8th) were the first scent marks. Schalke, on the other hand, only rarely managed to get into the Berlin penalty area.
Strong performance: Hertha’s Michael Cuisance
However, Hertha’s initial period of pressure subsided quite quickly – the defensive lines, which have been so strong this season, increasingly took command. Because there were also a few interruptions due to injuries, the flow of the game became increasingly lacking. Hertha coach Leitl was forced to make an early change: Jeremy Dudizak came on for Maurice Krattenmacher, who apparently injured his thigh.
The best chance of the first half was initiated by the eye-catching Cuisance, who sent Winkler on his way down the left with his interface pass. Karius in the Schalke goal made a big impression and parried Winkler’s somewhat too casual lob attempt (39′).
Muslic changes, but Schalke doesn’t improve
Schalke coach Miron Muslic changed at halftime and took out his right wing player Mika Wallentowitz – probably because he had problems against Winkler. But Muslic’s Schalke team didn’t really get into the game any better. It was still – if then – Hertha that set an exclamation mark on the offensive.
Striker Luca Schuler (59′) and again Cuisance were denied by Karius (62′), who had once again made a strong save. Shortly afterwards, Schuler took a little too much time with his shot at the outside post and was decisively disrupted (67′). The middle of the second half clearly belonged to the hosts, Hertha’s lead seemed to be only a matter of time.
Not a single Schalke shot on goal
But she didn’t fall anymore. Partly because the Berliners didn’t play their attacks consistently enough, but also partly because Karius always acted cautiously. Schalke’s goalkeeper – who has been on the rise for months anyway – earned top marks that evening.
Completely different from the “Royal Blues” offensive, which remained completely pale. Schalke only recorded four shots and not a single one of these shots was on target. There wasn’t much more than a 0-0 draw possible for Schalke that evening, but with a bit of luck they fought for that result.
Loris Karius mit Schalke-Trainer Miron Muslic
Hertha in Karlsruhe, Schalke against Kaiserslautern
Hertha will be guests at Karlsruher SC on Saturday lunchtime (1:00 p.m.). Schalke welcomes 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Sunday afternoon (1:30 p.m.).
