week 1 - match report

Royal Blues held to a draw by Frankfurt

Schalke 04 were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in their Bundesliga opener against Eintracht Frankfurt. Halil Altintop gave the Royal Blues the lead in a strong first-half showing. But then Lincoln missed a penalty, eventually giving Ioannis Amanatidis the opportunity to level the scores for the visitors.

The first chance fell to Frankfurt after just two minutes when Amanatidis flicked a long goal-kick from Markus Pröll into the path of Michael Thurk. But Schalke keeper Frank Rost rushed out to the right-hand corner of the penalty box to divert the striker's shot for a corner. Lincoln laid down an initial marker after 14 minutes, his 25-metre effort forcing Pröll into the save. And the Eintracht stopper suddenly found himself in the thick of the action. First Halil Altintop slipped a brilliant pass to Lovenkrands, whose shot was turned round the post by the keeper. Then Lincoln dispatched a low free-kick into the danger area, and Halil Altintop's shot from ten metres was deflected over the crossbar.

Schalke's lead was the product of a clever move that saw Zlatan Bajramovic play the ball wide right to Kevin Kuranyi, who whipped a low, first-time cross into the middle where Halil Altintop was totally unmarked. The Turkey international accepted the invitation and netted from twelve metres. The Royal Blues then had two great chances to extend their lead, as when Kuranyi was taken somewhat by surprise when Pröll failed to cut out a Lovenkrands cross and headed narrowly wide of the right-hand upright. Moments later Rost intercepted a cross and threw the ball immediately to Lovenkrands, who burst forward before putting Gustavo Varela in the clear with a defence-splitting pass. But the Uruguayan - clearly unaware just how much space he had - attempted a hurried lob that Pröll was able to save. Schalke went in with a deserved half-time lead, but given the chances they had had, the margin should have been higher.

Four minutes into the second half Schalke were presented with a golden opportunity to double their lead. Once again Lovenkrands produced a great ball to put a team-mate clear. This time it was Kuranyi who stormed into the box, where he went to ground under a challenge from Spycher. Referee Wolfgang Stark pointed to the spot, and up stepped Lincoln, only for Pröll to dive the right way and block the kick. Yet despite the disappointment of failing to score a second, the Royal Blues continued to dominate. But almost indiscernibly Schalke began to fade and Frankfurt, hitherto completely out of it, began to sense they had a chance. And though they only created one, it was all they needed. Christopher Reinhard sent in a cross from the left, and Amanatidis glanced a header into the far corner for the equaliser.

Schalke: Rost - Varela, Bordon, Rodriguez, Kobiashvili - Hamit Altintop (Özil 80'), Bajramovic - Lincoln - Halil Altintop, Kuranyi, Lövenkrands (Asamoah 75')

Frankfurt: Pröll - Cimen (Ochs 67'), Vasoski, Rehmer, Spycher - Streit, Meier (Reinhard 46'), Russ, Köhler - Amanatidis, Thurk (Preuss 80')

Goals: 1-0 Halil Altintop (30'), 1-1 Amanatidis (72')

Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)

Referee: Stark (Ergolding)

Yellow cards: Hamit Altintop - Cimen, Amanatidis