Hertha fought bravely but were outmatched by Schalke, with players showing ferocious determination.
Schalke Start the 2. Bundesliga Season with a Win
Miron Muslic, the new coach of Schalke 04, celebrated a successful debut as his team secured a 2-1 victory over Hertha BSC in the opening match of the 2025-26 2. Bundesliga season.
The Veltins Arena was buzzing with excitement from the first minute, as Schalke took the first corner of the match. The home team dominated the game from the outset, with their aggression overwhelming Hertha BSC in the early stages.
The first goal of the new season came in the 16th minute when Peter Remmert passed to Moussa Sylla while lying down, catching Hertha's defense off guard. Nikola Katic added a second goal for Schalke just seven minutes later, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Hertha BSC's coach, Stefan Leitl, admitted that his team was not present for the first twenty minutes of the match and were struggling to find a way past Schalke's solid defense. Hertha's offense never got going in the entire 90 minutes, and they were hardly visible in the first half.
Despite Schalke's dominance, Hertha almost scored throughout the match. Deyovaisio Zeefuik had a header shortly after Schalke's 1:0, but it didn't result in a goal for the visitors. Hertha's double striker Fabian Reese and Dawid Kownacki were unable to make a single impact in the match.
Schalke finished 14th in the previous season, marking the worst season in their 121-year history. However, under Muslic's leadership, the team has shown signs of improvement, with a committed and high-intensity performance from the first minute.
Timo Becker, a defender for Schalke, expressed his joy at the win and his desire to celebrate. Nikola Katic scored for Schalke, but was shown a red card in the 90+8' minute, adding a bit of tension to the final moments of the match.
Hertha BSC's poor performance throughout the match has dampened their promotion dreams, while Schalke's win has sparked hopes among its loyal fans for a successful season. The match took place in front of a sold-out crowd of 62,083 spectators, with many applauding Muslic's impact on the team.
Before joining Schalke, Muslic had a brief stint managing Plymouth Argyle. His move to Schalke was notable as he quickly began reviving the club's performance and was credited with positively impacting the team's direction in a short period. Muslic's coaching and backroom staff were previously recognized as part of a promising squad structure before investment and other changes affected Plymouth Argyle.
The new season is still in its early stages, but Schalke's impressive performance against Hertha BSC has set a high standard for the rest of the season. Fans will be eager to see if the team can maintain their form and challenge for promotion to the Bundesliga.
Sports enthusiasts were thrilled as Schalke 04, under the guidance of new coach Miron Muslic, kicked off their 2025-26 2. Bundesliga season with a commanding 2-1 victory over Hertha BSC in a high-intensity football match at the Veltins Arena.
In the twelfth minute of the exciting encounter, Schalke's Nikola Katic scored a crucial goal and later received a red card in the final moments, adding a dramatic element to the game.
