Schalke edge Hoffenheim to climb back into top four
If Andre Breitenreiter has achieved anything in his first six months as Schalke boss, he's certainly given the club a smidgen of swagger again. That, of course, is largely down to the prodigious talents of 19-year-old Leroy Sane whose appearance was fleeting in the 1-0 win over Hoffenheim.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's first half goal will move Schalke up to fourth, although that is likely to change by the end of the final matchday of 2015. A club never more than a few weeks away from a crisis in recent seasons, Schalke is creeping back to a competitive state and the league table reflects the improvements of this half of the campaign.
Breitenreiter has resurrected Schalke from the doldrums of the Roberto Di Matteo era, but he wasn't the club's first-choice after failed attempts to court Augsburg's Markus Weinzierl. Nonetheless, the former Paderborn coach has injected a little ounce of confidence to one of Germany's biggest clubs, facilitating an attacking and proactive style, which is in line with Schalke's traditions.
Breitenreiter's side might have fallen short of 30 points - the target set publicly by the coach ahead of the winter break â but progress is reasonable to date with Schalke also competing in European football after the winter break. There are doubts that he's the standard of coach who could take the Royal Blues back into the Champions League, though keeping the club's star players will be of greater importance.
Sane is one of those, but he was left on the bench in the only change from the side which lost at FC Augsburg last weekend. The 19-year-old was being protected having played a lot of games this season, admitted Breitenreiter before kickoff. Franco Di Santo was his replacement as Schalke went to an orthodox 4-4-2 formation.
But it was Hoffenheim who started strongest. Stevens, returning to Schalke having coached over two spells at the club, saw his side threaten early with Eduardo Vargas leading the attack. Kevin Volland was left on the bench, but Stevens did welcome back Joachim Löw's utility man Sebastian Rudy to the fold. Vargas' sharply got ahead of his marker in the third minute to divert Jin-Su Kim's cross towards goal, but it was a harmless effort.
Johannes Geis' return from a five-game suspension has correlated with an upturn in performances. At just 22, Geis is one of the main leaders of the team, a result of his excellent moulding at Mainz. Now with a responsible partner next to him, Leon Goretzka has been able to thrive in the first-team â the 19-year-old earning a similar 'wunderkid' reputation in his teenage years while at second-division Bochum.
Breaking from midfield as he does best, Goretzka fired one shot into the side-netting after six minutes and then another seven minutes later. On 19 minutes, Schalke forced Oliver Baumann into his first serious save with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar moving into the channels and striking low at the Hoffenheim keeper.
Schalke's direct play was rewarded on 33 minutes with the opener. Geis' quarterback-like dominance of possession quickly shifted focus into attack and his cross picked out Choupo-Moting who forced the ball past Baumann. Full-back Pavel Kaderabek appeared to get the final touch, but the goal was officially awarded to the Cameroonian international who has three in his last three games.
The second goal eluded Schalke from then on, one which would have put the game beyond doubt for the Royal Blues who hadn't lost in 62 previous games when leading at the interval. Huntelaar brought out another smart save from Baumann in the first minute of the second half. But while the hosts were growing jittery, Hoffenheim found the spirit to launch a few attacks of their own.
On 51 minutes, the visitors could have easily been level when Kaderabek overlapped on the right, drew the ball back, but Jonathan Schmid was too fast for his own good at the near-post. Vargas, the energetic Chilean forward, deserved a little more for his efforts in terms of scoring chances, but he squandered his only effort on 64 minutes.
Sane was introduced only three minutes earlier, replacing youngster Max Meyer. He popped up with a header on 75 minutes, but didn't threaten Baumann as the Royal Blues failed to find a cushion going into a nervy last few minutes. Schalke held on to collect the three points, just their second win in eight league games, which brings them into the Champions League spots. Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are still second-bottom, but could end the year at the foot of the table should Stuttgart manage a win against Wolfsburg on Saturday.
