The way to the non-relegation places has become a little shorter for FC Schalke 04. In the home game against 1. FC Köln, the offensive didn't score a goal, but the defense is stable. The Effzeh continues its good start into the new year.
FC Schalke 04 is still clearly behind in the race against relegation from the Bundesliga. Five days after the 6-1 debacle against Leipzig, the bottom of the table improved in the 0-0 draw against 1. FC Köln, but it wasn't enough for the much-needed third win of the season. The gap to the first non-relegation place is six points after the start of the second half of the season. The Effzeh remained undefeated in the third game of the year, but failed to build on the spirited performance in the 1-1 draw in Munich.
Although Schalke went to work with a lot of commitment, they hardly set any accents in the game up front. And because the Cologne team also struggled to create scoring chances, the entertainment value was limited. The tough duels with the formation of packs in between caused the most excitement.
Coach Thomas Reis really tried everything: In addition to three winter signings, the original Schalke player Ralf Fährmann was back in the Bundesliga for the first time in 20 months. The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet, but the Royal Blues' goal doldrums continued up front: in the last ten league games, the promoted team only scored four times. "He's Schalke through and through, I'm hoping for fresh impetus for the team," Reis explained to DAZN Fährmann's reactivation. The 34-year-old last held the 0-1 draw in Cologne on May 22, 2021 - long after Schalke had relegated. A similar fate now threatens.
In addition, Reis offered loan players Tim Skarke (Union Berlin) and Moritz Jenz (FC Lorient) for the first time, second division record scorer Simon Terodde returned to the starting XI, playmaker Rodrigo Zalazar, who returned to the squad 120 days after his metatarsal fracture, was initially on the bench . His opponent Steffen Baumgart made three changes to his team compared to the 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich.
Skarke and Jenz were responsible for Schalke's first chance to score: After the winger's cross, the central defender failed with a header at Cologne keeper Marvin Schwäbe (2'). The tail light started more committed and aggressive than in the debacle against Leipzig. The game against the ball was significantly improved, in own possession there was an attempt to play quickly down the wings, but the last pass or cross was too imprecise.
Nevertheless, Cologne was more busy on the defensive than the wildly gesticulating Baumgart would have liked. It looked similar after the break: Schalke tried, now with new signing Michael Frey in the middle of the attack, a header from Tom Krauss (64th) missed the target. A little later, Zalazar made his comeback to the cheers of the 61,571 spectators.
