The FC Schalke 04 left the PreZero Arena with no points despite scoring a goal, as the club fell 2-1 to TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday and remains rooted in the Bundesliga cellar.
The defeat, confirmed by sportschau.de, leaves Schalke in 17th place in the table as the league heads into its international break.
Both Schalke’s goalkeeper Loris Karius and new signing Robin Gosens were forced off the field early in the second half after a collision. Karius left the pitch visibly injured and dazed, with a bloody nose, while Gosens was seen with a heavily bandaged knee.
Hoffenheim’s goals came from Fisnik Asllani in the 10th minute and Tim Lemperle in the 26th, securing their first win in three competitions and lifting them to eighth place with 12 points.
Early Gift Decides Game
The match was just three minutes old when Hoffenheim took the lead in a manner no one expected. Schalke goalkeeper Loris Karius, in attempting to play the ball forward, inadvertently struck Asllani with it, causing the ball to trickle into the net. “That is a goal I have not scored like this before. But that doesn’t matter to me,” Asllani told sportschau.de.
The goal came against the run of play, as Schalke’s early pressure had created chances for Kenan Karaman and Soufiane El-Faouzi. However, the Royal Blues’ struggles in front of goal continued. According to europesays.com, Schalke’s head coach Miron Muslic described his team’s performance as “perhaps the best in the Bundesliga.”
Defensive Lapse and Injury Blow
Hoffenheim doubled their lead in the 26th minute. While Schalke’s defense recovered from the opening shock, they were caught out again. Tim Lemperle scored to make it 2-0, and europesays.com noted that the Schalke backline, which had been aggressive in attack, appeared “mentally too slow” in that moment.
The game took a dramatic turn just after the restart. Karius let a harmless shot go, and as defender Robin Gosens rushed to clear the danger, he collided heavily with the goalkeeper. The impact left both players in need of immediate medical attention.
Karius was substituted, looking groggy, and Gosens was helped from the field with a heavily strapped knee. Schalke coach Miron Muslic conveyed a grim update from the dressing room: “We fear a serious knee injury for Robin. That’s the information I have from the cabin,” he said, as reported by sportschau.de.
Late Goal, No Change in Result
Despite the setbacks, Schalke refused to surrender. The team dominated possession and created numerous chances, peppering Hoffenheim’s goal. Their persistence paid off in the 81st minute when striker Junior Adamu scored his first goal of the season, capitalizing on a rebound after Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann saved a header from substitute Edin Dzeko.
It was too little, too late. Hoffenheim weathered the late pressure and held on for the victory. Hoffenheim’s coach Christian Ilzer praised his side’s resilience, calling it “an absolute hard-fought win against an opponent with enormous resistance,” according to the report from sportschau.de.
What’s Next
With the international break underway, Hoffenheim travels to face Eintracht Frankfurt on November 21, 2026, at 15:30 local time. FC Schalke 04 will host VfB Stuttgart on the same day, with kick-off scheduled for 18:30 local time.
FAQ
- Where does Schalke 04 stand in the table after this match?
- Following the 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim, FC Schalke 04 is in 17th place in the Bundesliga table.
- Who scored the goal for Schalke 04?
- Junior Adamu scored his first goal of the season for Schalke 04 in the 81st minute.
- What are the injury concerns for Schalke after the match?
- Both goalkeeper Loris Karius and defender Robin Gosens left the game with injuries. Gosens is feared to have a serious knee injury.
Keep reading
