Match report - Week 2

Dream start to second half sees off Cologne

Schalke made a successful, high-scoring start to their home campaign on Saturday when captain Benedikt Höwedes led his team to a deserved 5-1 win against FC Cologne. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (42', 47', 84'), Lewis Holtby (47') and Raul (59') got the goals for the Royal Blues, who were particularly impressive in the second half.

Head coach Ralf Rangnick made three changes to his starting line-up. Christoph Metzelder came in for Kyriakos Papadopoulos at the back, while Julian Draxler and Jan Moravek played on the wings in support of lone striker Raul. This duo replaced Jermaine Jones, who was on international duty with the US earlier in the week, and Alexander Baumjohann.

In front of another capacity crowd at the VELTINS Arena the match began several minutes late as the Schalke team were stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the stadium. Despite their late arrival the Royal Blues were first out of the blocks when the game did kick off and they had the majority of the possession, though there was no end product to show for this domination.

The visitors posed their first serious threat on Ralf Fährmann's goal on 12 minutes and were immediately rewarded. Lukas Podolski won the ball in a challenge with Christian Fuchs and slipped it to Mato Jajalo, who in turn laid it off to Slawomir Peszko. Instead of shooting, the Poland midfielder knocked a square pass in the box to Podolski, leaving the Germany striker a simple tap-in. Schalke were a man down in the run-up to the goal as Metzelder was receiving treatment on the touchline. The central defender reported a calf problem and had to be substituted. He was replaced by Papadopoulos.

Having taken the lead Cologne withdrew into their own half and defended resolutely. The Royal Blues pressed forward but the final ball was usually intercepted by the visitors, who were content to wait for a chance to strike on the break. Some crosses did find their way into the Cologne penalty area, however, though Huntelaar was out of luck with efforts on 27 and 30, as was Raul following a long ball from Fuchs in the 31st minute.

Schalke finally received recompense for their efforts three minutes before half-time when a Papadopoulos header struck the arm of Cologne defender Kevin McKenna in the box and referee Guido Winkmann pointed to the spot. Huntelaar converted the penalty and the two sides went in at the break all square.

The Royal Blues started the second half with a bang, Huntelaar doubling his tally with a header from an excellent cross by Marco Höger to make it 2-1 within 120 seconds of the restart. And with the fans still celebrating, Schalke extended their lead 76 seconds later. Höger was involved in the build-up again, skilfully taking the ball off Peszko before squaring it to Holtby, who dispatched a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to complete a near perfect start to the second period.

Ralf Rangnick's men maintained the pressure after the double strike and soon fashioned an opportunity for Höwedes on 51 minutes, but the Schalke skipper put his shot just wide of the target. Goal number four wasn't long in coming, however. Collecting a brilliant pass from Moravek, Raul produced a delightful left-foot lob over Cologne keeper Michael Rensing from ten metres out, an effort that will definitely be a candidate for the next goal of the month!

By this time the Royal Blues were clearly enjoying their football and Huntelaar almost notched his third after a one-two with Fuchs on 67, his shot from the edge of the box flying just wide. Seconds later Julian Draxler stroked the ball a fraction wide of the far post from a narrow angle. The VELTINS Arena crowd responded to their team's performance accordingly, creating a wall of noise on all four sides.

The atmosphere was inspirational and Schalke continued their hunt for goals. And with six minutes to go substitute Jurado sent in a low cross for Huntelaar to make it 5-1. One day after his 28th birthday, the Dutchman gave himself, his team-mates and the fans a perfect present with his hat-trick.

Schalke: Fährmann - Höger, Höwedes, Metzelder (Papadopoulos 13'), Fuchs - Matip, Holtby - Moravek (Jurado 69'), Raul (Marica 82'), Draxler - Huntelaar
Cologne: Rensing - Brecko, Geromel, McKenna, Eichner - Riether, Lanig - Chihi (Clemens 74'), Jajalo (Matuschyk 74'), Peszko (Roshi 56') - Podolski
Goals: 0-1 Podolski (12'), 1-1 Huntelaar (42', pen.), 2-1 Huntelaar (47'), 3-1 Holtby (48'), 4-1 Raul (59'), 5-1 Huntelaar (84')
Referee: Winkmann (Kerken)
Attendance: 61,673 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Lanig, McKenna, Roshi