Bundesliga
week 1 - match report

Bundesliga
Magath "glad, but not happy" after win over FCN

The bottom line is three points and a successful start to the new Bundesliga campaign. But Schalke's 2-1 win in Nürnberg had an element of luck about it. The Royal Blues had it within their power to see the game out safely after taking a two goal lead. So Felix Magath's analysis was correspondingly critical.

"When you see what went on at the end, it's enough to make anyone furious", an angry Schalke manager said after the final whistle. He was not referring to the unpunished handball by Angelos Charisteas in the run-up to Nürnberg's 88th minute goal, however, but the way his side played. "When you're four against one and moving towards the opposition goal, you have to go about the counterattack in a calm and measured way, if only to use up time", he explained. "I'm glad we won the game, but I'm not happy."

As in the DFB Cup against Windeck, Carlos Zambrano and Marcelo Bordon made up the central defence and Benedikt Höwedes slotted in at left back. In midfield, however, where new captain Heiko Westermann played in the holding position, Magath had a surprise up his sleeve. Christoph Moritz, a recent addition to the club's second string from Alemannia Aachen, began on the right-hand side, while fit-again Jefferson Farfan partnered Kevin Kuranyi in attack.

In the blistering heat the Royal Blues pinned the Bundesliga newcomers back in their own half right away. Constant pressure on the home defence saw them force a number of corners and free-kicks and with 36 minutes gone they took a deserved lead through Kevin Kuranyi, an advantage they could easily have extended by half-time. And when the Schalke striker added a second just after the restart, it seemed the game was over. But then Nürnberg began to push the Royal Blues back into their own half. "We didn't play well, despite going 1-0 and then 2-0 up", opined Magath. "In this weather we needed to operate differently, to move the ball forward better. But instead we made too many mistakes and gave the ball away far too cheaply. If we carry on playing like that, we'll be in trouble."

The Schalke boss had special words of praise for 19-year-old debutant Christoph Moritz: "I wanted to have a look at him three weeks ago in training, but unfortunately he was injured. This week he had a chance to present himself and he did well. And if he can do it in training, he can do it in the Bundesliga as well." Kuranyi's performance also met with Magath's approval, as did those of Kenia and Farfan. "I was very satisfied with their displays. Jefferson showed a lot of quality and that should give him and everyone else a boost."

Nürnberg coach Michael Oenning felt Schalke deserved the victory, saying: "They got the goals at the right time. We invested a lot because we wanted to win the game. We've shown we can hold our own in the Bundesliga, and that was important. But Schalke went about their work very coolly. We were made to pay a bit for our inexperience."

Nürnberg: Schäfer - Diekmeier, Wolf, Maroh, Pinola - Mnari (Risse 54') - Kluge, Mintal, Gündogan (Frantz 54') - Eigler, Boakye (Charisteas 68')
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Zambrano, Bordon, Höwedes - Westermann - Moritz (Pliatsikas 76'), Rakitic (Kenia 46'), Kobiashvili (Holtby 46') - Farfan, Kuranyi
Goals: 0-1 Kuranyi (36'), 0-2 Kuranyi (50'), 1-2 Mintal (88')
Yellow cards: Mnari, Wolf – Westermann
Attendance: 46,780 (sold out)
Referee: Kircher (Rottenburg)