Fierce Victory of Schalke over Hertha: "We Battled Like Lion-hearted Warriors"
In the thrilling opening match of the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season, Schalke claimed a hard-fought 2:1 victory over Hertha BSC at the packed Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
The game began with high-intensity attacking from Schalke, signalling their intent early on. Moussa Sylla scored the first goal of the season for Schalke in the 16th minute, after a well-worked play involving Peter Remmert. Nikola Katić then doubled the lead for Schalke just seven minutes later, heading in a corner from Christopher Antwi-Adjei.
Schalke maintained dominance throughout the first half, creating additional chances, with Remmert missing some opportunities. The home crowd, energized by over 62,000 fans, cheered their team on, providing an unwavering source of motivation.
Despite a late push from Hertha, culminating in a goal by Sebastian Grönning in the 89th minute, Schalke managed to hold on to their lead, securing all three points. However, Katić was controversially sent off in stoppage time, but this did not affect the outcome.
Hertha coach Stefan Leitl admitted that his team was not present in the first twenty minutes and was overwhelmed by Schalke's aggression. Timo Becker, a defender for Schalke, expressed his joy at the win and his desire to celebrate.
The victory sparked hopes among Schalke's loyal fans for a successful season, as they finished 14th in the previous season, marking their worst season in the club's 121-year history. Schalke's new coach, Miron Muslić, celebrated his debut with the win, demanding a passionate performance from his team, and they delivered with effort, will, and high intensity from the first minute.
Meanwhile, Hertha has started the season with three consecutive poor performances, disappointing their fans throughout most of the game, with the exception of Grönning's late goal. Deyovaisio Zeefuik had a header shortly after Schalke's 1:0, but it was the only notable chance for Hertha in the first half.
Schalke's fans rewarded their team's sensational start with loud cheers, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the club in the 2. Bundesliga. The team will look to build on this victory as they continue their quest for redemption in the upcoming matches.
Timo Becker, a defender for Schalke, mentioned his enthusiasm over the team's football victory, expressing a hope for more success in future sports matches. Despite Hertha's late attempt to even the score with a goal by Sebastian Grönning, the game remained predominantly a display of Schalke's football dominance.
