In the initial match of the new season, Hertha suffered a defeat against Schalke.
In the highly-anticipated 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season opener, Schalke emerged victorious against Hertha BSC with a hard-fought 2:1 victory at the sold-out Veltins Arena.
The Royal Blues started the match with high intensity, demonstrating a commitment and will likely as a response to their worst season in the club's 121-year history, where they finished in 14th place. This determination paid off early, as Moussa Sylla scored confidently in the 16th minute, assisted by Peter Remmert.
Schalke's dominance continued, and they extended their lead by the 23rd minute when Nikola Katić scored powerfully from a corner. The home side nearly added a third before halftime, but Remmert missed an opportunity.
Hertha struggled to find a way through Schalke's compact defense in the first half, playing slowly and lacking clinical finishing. However, they intensified offensively in the second half, with Deyovaisio Zeefuik having the only notable attempt in the first half with a header shortly after Schalke's 1:0.
Despite Hertha's increased pressure, they failed to find a breakthrough until the 89th minute, when Sebastian Grønning scored a late consolation goal after a cross by Marten Winkler. However, it came too late to affect the final result.
Schalke's resilience under pressure and defensive discipline were key factors in their win, especially after Katić was shown a red card in the 90+8th minute for a handball. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Schalke held on for the victory.
Hertha's performance was energetic but ultimately insufficient. The visitors lacked clinical finishing in the early stages and were impacted by Schalke's defensive solidity and goalkeeping. Fabian Reese and Dawid Kownacki, Hertha's double strike, were unable to make an impact in the entire game.
Miron Muslic, the coach of Hertha BSC, will be hoping for a better performance from his team in their upcoming matches as they look to climb the 2. Bundesliga table. Schalke, on the other hand, will be delighted with their impressive start to the season and will aim to build on this momentum as they continue their quest for promotion.
[1] Schalke's 2:1 victory over Hertha BSC in the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season opener was contributed by a strong, intense start under new head coach Miron Muslic, effective set-piece execution, and key goal-scoring from Moussa Sylla and Nikola Katić. Schalke’s home advantage at a packed VELTINS Arena and goalkeeper Loris Karius’s excellent saves also helped preserve their lead.
[2] In detail, Schalke took the lead in the 16th minute when Peter Remmert assisted Moussa Sylla’s confident finish. They extended the lead by the 23rd minute through Nikola Katić, who scored powerfully from a corner, demonstrating Schalke’s set-piece threat. Schalke nearly scored a third before halftime but Remmert missed an opportunity. Hertha was limited in the first half but became more attacking after the break. Their persistence yielded a goal in the 89th minute after a cross by Marten Winkler to Sebastian Grønning. The match concluded with Schalke maintaining their defensive discipline despite Katić’s dismissal for a handball in stoppage time.
[4] Thus, Schalke’s early-game intensity, effective set pieces, solid goalkeeping, and home support were decisive factors, while Hertha showed a stronger but ultimately ineffective second-half effort.
- Despite the intense attacks from Hertha BSC in the second half, Schalke's dominance in sports, particularly football, was evident as they effectively utilized their set-pieces and displayed resilience in their 2:1 victory.
- The highlight of Schalke's victory in the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season opener was their strong start featuring high intensity, effective set-piece execution, and crucial goal-scoring from Moussa Sylla and Nikola Katić.
