Schalke Stumbles Again: 3-5 Loss in Düsseldorf
FC Schalke 04 finds itself in a tight relegation battle, as they suffered another defeat, this time by a 3-5 margin against Fortuna Düsseldorf. In a sold-out Düsseldorf Arena with 52,000 spectators, Schalke experienced their fourth defeat under new coach Karel Geraerts. Despite the valiant efforts of Marcin Kaminski (57th), Tomas Kalas (74th), and Bryan Lasme (75th), the hosts secured a comfortable victory, boosting their position to third in the table for the night.
The initial thirty minutes were brutal for Schalke as Fortuna Düsseldorf amazed them with a three-player backline and two offensive wingers. Vince Vermeij (13th and 26th minutes) and Felix Klaus (19th) scored three unanswered goals, and it wasn't until Geraerts made some tactical changes that Schalke started to regain control.
The match turned in Schalke's favor, with Kaminski, Kalas, and Lasme contributing to the scoreboard after Christos Tzolis extended Fortuna Düsseldorf's lead to four (65th). However, one final blow from Jona Niemiec in stoppage time sealed the deal for Fortuna Düsseldorf, finishing the match with a scoreline of 5-3.
This latest defeat leaves Schalke at 16th place in the Bundesliga 2 table, while Fortuna Düsseldorf ascends to third position. The hosts' solid performance proved to be a difficult challenge for Schalke's Bundesliga 2 squad, showcasing key players like Marcin Kaminski and Tomas Kalas.
In the recent past, Schalke has been experiencing a string of setbacks, reflected in their league position and points count (24 points from 21 games) with a negative goal difference (-11). Fortuna Düsseldorf, on the other hand, has been holding their own, sitting at 5th in the standings, with 34 points earned from the same number of games and a positive goal difference (+7).
Sources: and Enrichment Data
