Match report - Week 19

4-1 in Cologne – S04 turn on the style after the break

FC Schalke 04 were in impressive form as they beat FC Cologne on Saturday, 28th January. The Royal Blues fell a goal behind before the break but eventually won 4-1 in a thrilling encounter on Saturday evening. Ciprian Marica (x2), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Marco Höger were on the scoresheet for Schalke, with Lukas Podolski getting the early goal for Cologne.

Huub Stevens made three changes to his line-up from the side that beat Stuttgart 3-1 last weekend, with Christoph Metzelder, Julian Draxler and Ciprian Marica starting the game in place of the injured Höwedes (cheekbone), Alexander Baumjohann (muscular problems) and Raul (calf injury).

The hosts began the game with bags of energy and put pressure on the Schalke defence from the outset. Their first chance came after just three minutes when Milivoje Novakovic got up to head a Podolski corner but Atsuto Uchida was on the post to clear the Slovene's effort from the line. Barely 60 seconds later Cologne did find the back of the net. Podolski weaved through the Schalke midfield following a one-two with Novakovic before firing a venomous left-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to make it 1-0 for Cologne.

The Royal Blues were struggling to find their rhythm against solid opposition. A left-foot shot from Draxler on 10 minutes which went over the bar and a free-kick which ricocheted off Joel Matip's head and shoulder were all the visitors could muster at this stage.  A deflected Christian Fuchs' free-kick also flew narrowly past the post on 19 minutes. The home side were defending well at this stage and they had little difficulty in stifling Schalke's attacks.

Nevertheless, S04 were looking the more lively side, despite the threat posed on the break by the pace of Podolski and Novakovic although they were unable to create any real chances at this point. Much of the game centred around midfield. Schalke were lucky on 42 minutes when Podolski blazed over from ten metres in the last notable incident of the first-half.

Stevens made one change in the break, bringing on Jurado in place of Atsuto Uchida.  Höger moved to right-back to fill the void, with the Spaniard slotting in just behind the forwards. The first chance of the second-half fell to the visitors, but Chinedu Obasi could only hit the side-netting from a tight angle following a clever pass from Jurado. Two minutes later Jurado launched a counter-attack but referee Dr. Jochen Drees incorrectly blew for offside, despite the Spaniard having been in his own half when he collected the ball.

At the other end Metzelder made two vital interceptions to stop Podolski on 54 and 56 minutes. Schalke’s attacking endeavour was rewarded on the hour mark, however. Huntelaar played a defence-splitting pass to Fuchs out on the left. The Austrian then whipped a dangerous cross into the box which was met by the head of Marica who got between Kevin McKenna and Pedro Geromel to give Cologne keeper Michael Rensing no chance. It was the Romanian's first Bundesliga goal for FC Schalke 04.

The game was now wide open. Podolski and Novakovic were in a dangerous position after being played in by Slawomir Peszko on 64 minutes but Höger was alert and managed to clear the danger. At the other end a Jurado shot whistled past the left-hand post just two minutes later. Schalke's second did not take long to arrive. Obasi played a pin-point cross into Huntelaar and the Dutchman's header rattled against the post. Marica reacted quickest to the rebound to score and make it 2-1 to Schalke.

Cologne had a couple of chances to equalise right away. Sascha Riether’s close-range effort was weak, however, and a Podolski free-kick landed on the roof of the net minutes later. The Royal Blues were proving less wasteful in front of goal and they were awarded a penalty for a crude challenge on Julian Draxler by substitute Miso Brecko. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and the Slovene was shown the red card. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar duly dispatched the penalty to make it 3-1 to Schalke after 78 minutes.

The visitors were hungry for more, however, and just four minutes later Höger bagged his first goal in an S04 shirt. A one-two with Huntelaar split the home defence and the midfielder was able to smash the ball into the empty net to round off an excellent result for his side. The win means Stevens' side remain joint top of the Bundesliga with leaders Bayern Munich.

Cologne: Rensing, Sereno, Geromel, McKenna (Brecko 69'), Eichner, Jajalo, Riether, Clemens (Roshi 69'), Peszko (Lanig 82'), Novakovic, Podolski
Schalke: Unnerstall, Uchida (Jurado 46'), Papadopoulos, Metzelder, Fuchs, Höger, Matip, Obasi, Draxler (Pukki 86'), Marica (Moritz 83'), Huntelaar
Goals: 1-0 Podolski (4'), 1-1 Marica (60'), 1-2 Marica (72'), 1-3 Huntelaar (78'/penalty), 1-4 Höger (82')
Referee: Dr. Drees (Münster-Sarmsheim)
Attendance: 50, 000 (Sold out)
Yellow cards: Geromel - Uchida, Matip
Red card: Brecko for a professional foul (77')