week 2 - match report
Praise after 4-1 derby win "helps soothe" Schalke soul
The time for mocking T-shirts is over. Schalke 04 put local rivals Borussia Dortmund firmly in their place on Saturday afternoon with a thoroughly deserved 4-1 win. "The players have earned it today", said coach Mirko Slomka, gratefully accepting the praise and congratulations for his team's performance.
Going into the 130th competitive match between the two teams the Schalke boss made two changes in a tactical adjustment to his formation: in a 4-4-2 system Ivan Rakitic started in place of Mesut Özil in midfield, which was additionally bolstered by the presence of Zlatan Bajramovic. Striker Peter Lovenkrands made way for the Bosnian and began on the bench.
The game was evenly balanced only in the opening stages. "We started the match well, keeping things tight at the back and closing down the space - until the opening goal - but from our point of view that's the only positive thing I can say about it", said Dortmund coach Thomas Doll afterwards. The game did indeed tip Schalke's way when Marcelo Bordon headed his side into an 11th minute lead, and it was all but over when Pander curled home a free-kick on 34. For the Royal Blues fashioned another three great chances before half-time, for Kuranyi, Rakitic and Ernst, whereas one Klimowicz shot in the 21st minute was all the visitors had to show for their efforts.
The changes made by Slomka had already had the desired effect by then. "We switched to a 4-4-2 at short notice and practised intensively during the week", the 39-year-old said. "On top of that, our strikers managed to exert lots of pressure on the heart of the Dortmund defence." But that in itself doesn't convey Schalke's superiority. "We defended with great passion and heart and were very purposeful going for goal." The fans had also played a part, added Slomka, who admitted to factoring this into his preparations: "We placed special emphasis on the support from the stands. We wanted to soak it up and use it to our advantage. And it worked."
After the restart the balance tilted even more in favour of the Royal Blues, who spent the first quarter of an hour entirely in their opponents' half. "At times we were asking to give away set pieces", said Doll, angry about the numerous Schalke free-kicks and corners during this phase of the game. Yet Schalke's other goals came from open play, Bajramovic and Kobiashvili sending in two perfect crosses for strikers Asamoah (59') and Kuranyi (78'). Dortmund managed this just once through Dede to give Nelson Valdez a consolation goal on 66 that temporarily reduced the deficit to 3-1.
Once Schalke had added a fourth, though, it looked as if they would run out winners by an even greater margin, especially when Marc-André Kruska was show a second yellow card for dissent in the 85th minute. But in the end the Royal Blues were happy to settle for their biggest home defeat of Dortmund in 16 years. Andreas Müller was pointedly matter-of-fact in analysing the victory: "The win won't bring us back the championship we lost, but it does soothe the soul a little", the general manager said. "We've put last season behind us. We're having another go, we just have to keep trying." And after the point at champions Stuttgart and the win over Dortmund in the derby, it's been a very pleasing start, not only as far as the table is concerned.
Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Ernst, Kobiashvili - Asamoah, (Lovenkrands 67'), Rakitic (Özil 82') - Bajramovic (Grossmüller 76'), Kuranyi
Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Kringe, Kovac, Wörns, Dede - Kruska - Blaszczykowski (Smolarek 76'), Tinga - Petric - Klimowicz (Valdez 46'), Buckley (Federico 64')
Referee: Knut Kircher (Rottenburg)
Goals: 1-0 Bordon (11'), 2-0 Pander (31'), 3-0 Asamoah (59'), 3-1 Valdez (66'), 4-1 Kuranyi (78')
Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)
Red card (second yellow): Kruska (85' for dissent)
Yellow cards: Bordon, Asamoah - Kovac, Wörns (2), Weidenfeller
