(this was just so the blog would not be as, “blah”.)

Review:
After three Bundesliga victories in succession Schalke 04 had to settle for a goalless draw against SC Karlsruhe in front of 29,477 spectators at the Wildparkstadion on Saturday. The point sees the Royal Blues climb to third place in the table.

Nevertheless, Slomka was not entirely satisfied with his side’s performance against the Bundesliga newcomers. “Even though we came more into the game in the last 25 minutes, ultimately we didn’t do enough to get the win. So we have to be satisfied with a point away from home.”

After missing last week’s 2-1 win in Berlin through injury, Marcelo Bordon and Mladen Krstajic returned to the team to face Karlsruhe, Benedikt Höwedes and Carlos Grossmüller making way for the two central defenders. In a 4-4-2 system Heiko Westermann ran out at left-back with Christian Pander moving up to the left side of midfield.

The changes did not achieve the desired effect in the first half, however, with Schalke unable to repeat their first-half showing of last week at Hertha BSC. Their passing lacked accuracy and there was little movement going forward, which Slomka partly attributed to a good performance by the home side: “Karlsruhe were excellent today. They were uncompromising in the tackle and made life difficult for us.”

Having learned the lessons of the reverse fixture, when they were twice caught out on the counterattack, Schalke’s initial priority in the first half was to “stay solid and give our opponents no space”, stressed Slomka. “But we didn’t really manage that. We weren’t compact enough.”

Karlsruhe switched quickly from defence to attack whenever they won the ball. Yet neither Sebastian Freis (2′), Maik Franz (20′), Tamas Hajnal (27′), Alexander Iashvili (29′), Mario Eggimann (30′) nor Stefan Buck (36′) were able to find the target.

Schalke were disappointing going forward. “We didn’t have any clear-cut chances”, said Slomka. The only shot on goal came from Fabian Ernst in the 28th minute, but his effort cleared the crossbar.

Slomka made one change at half-time, introducing Vicente Sanchez for Halil Altintop. The Uruguay international added impetus to Schalke’s attacking efforts and was involved in two dangerous situations, initially setting up Kevin Kuranyi, whose header was gathered by Karlsruhe keeper Markus Miller, and then crossing for Gerald Asamoah, who was denied by a last-ditch intervention by Christian Eichner. Schalke’s biggest chance fell to Marcelo Bordon on 75, but his shot was deflected for a corner by Miller.

In the end the Royal Blues had Manuel Neuer to thank for the point. The Schalke keeper showed great alertness to deny Tamas Hajnal (52′), Joshua Kennedy (54′), Stefan Buck (57′) and Kennedy again (60′).

Karlsruhe: Miller – Görlitz, Eggimann, Franz, Eichner – Porcello, Buck – Freis, Hajnal, Iashvili (Timm 77′) – Kennedy

Schalke 04: Neuer – Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Westermann – Ernst, Jones – Asamoah (Grossmüller 78′), Pander (Kobiashvili 63′) – Altintop (Sanchez 46′), Kuranyi

Attendance: 29,477 (sold out)

From what I gathered, the match was nothing special. At least we did not loose, and we took over that third CL spot from Werder. As long as we do not drop anymore matches I think we are safe, as from reports and news that I have raid, Werder is slumping at the wrong time(right for us ). I swear, I will try my hardest this weekend to actually be able to watch a match. I have nothing going on saturday, so I should be good. The only thing that will stop me is if it is not streaming.

With their rivals dropping points elsewhere Schalke completed a successful Easter weekend by winning 2-1 at Hertha BSC Berlin to move within touching distance of a Champions League berth. The Royal Blues grabbed a vital three points despite being without several key players.

In addition to Ivan Rakitic, Gustavo Varela, Mladen Krstajic and Levan Kobiashvili, head coach Mirko Slomka also had to manage without Marcelo Bordon at the Olympic Stadium after the Brazilian was ruled out by a groin injury. Heiko Westermann and home-grown talent Benedikt Höwedes thus formed the central defensive pairing in what was a very young Schalke rearguard. But the Royal Blues displayed some clinical finishing in front of goal, racing into a 2-0 lead before the home side had had a chance to find their rhythm.

Gerald Asamoah opened the scoring on 12, heading home Christian Pander’s free-kick, and 11 minutes later Jermaine Jones capitalised on a defensive error to cap a fine solo run from the half-way line with his first Bundesliga goal in Schalke colours. “We played some very composed football in the first half, we were effective and moved the ball around well”, said Slomka, delighted with the surprise effect. Nevertheless, Manuel Neuer had to reproduce his outstanding form of recent weeks to deny Raffael and Gojko Kacar, with Rafinha also clearing off the line to ensure Schalke maintained their two-goal lead at the break.

After the restart the Royal Blues struggled to relieve the pressure on their defence, showing little of the bold forward play of the first 45. “In the second half we allowed the home side to push us right back”, acknowledged Slomka. “But some of our players were making their first starts for quite a while and, significantly, had never played in this formation before. In situations like that you’re happier to take two steps back when you’re under pressure rather than attack.”

As the game wore on Hertha posed an increasing threat on the Schalke goal. “We were asleep in the first 20 minutes, but we played well after that”, said Hertha coach Lucien Favre. The Royal Blues frequently had to mobilise all their resources to get in a defensive block and Neuer was kept very busy. And with 67 minutes gone they were finally breached when Höwedes brought down Kacar in the box and Sofian Chahed stepped up to reduce the deficit from the spot. But try as they might the home side were unable to conjure up an equaliser. After attacking the Schalke goal for almost an hour they eventually ran out of steam in the final quarter of an hour. And Jones almost settled it for the visitors ten minutes from time with a curling effort that goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny did well to save.

Yet even without a third goal the Royal Blues were delighted with the outcome after the final whistle. They are now level on points with Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in third and fourth place and just two behind SV Hamburg in second. “After we lost three in succession our aim was to get back within reach of a Champions League spot”, recalled Slomka. “And with three wins in a row we’ve done just that.”

Hertha: Drobny – Friedrich, Simunic, von Bergen – Chahed, Lustenberger, Kacar, Skacel (Okoronkwo 82′) – Ebert (Piszczek 68′), Raffael – Andre Lima

Schalke: Neuer – Rafinha, Westermann, Höwedes, Pander – Jones, Ernst – Asamoah, Grossmüller (Lovenkrands 73′) – Kuranyi (Larsen 88′), Altintop (Sanchez 84′)

Referee: Fleischer (Sigmertshausen)

Goals: 0-1 Asamoah (12′), 0-2 Jones (23′), 1-2 Chahed (67′/penalty)

Attendance: 54,179

Yellow cards: Simunic (5), Andre Lima – Asamoah (3)

Highlights:

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I could not watch the game, so I cannot give my impression of the players. But looking at the table, we are out of a CL spot by just goal differential. Correct me if I am wrong on that. If Hamburg, Bayer and Werder start to hit a rough patch(Im pretty sure Werder already has), we could sneak up into second place. Hell I know this is highly unlikely, but if Munich slips up enough, I think we have and EXTREMELY outside chance at the title. That may just be me still being half asleep talking. Or it could be me thinking about Roma and hoping Inter looses or ties the next few games(and that Mancio is a bitch) so Roma can pip the scudetto from them. Whatever.

(Anyone know why the paragraphs do not want to indent? It’s annoying the crap out of me.)