week 23 - match report

Neuer inspiration for 2-0 win in Bielefeld

A great day for Schalke saw them end a run of three defeats, regain fifth place and cut the gap to the team in third, whatever happens on Sunday. The Royal Blues carried the momentum gained from reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League into the game at Arminia Bielefeld and emerged with a 2-0 win. And as in Porto, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had a major hand in things.

Three days after the dramatic events of Porto, Schalke coach Mirko Slomka described the task as follows: "We have to put together a team that can go another 90 minutes." The main priority was to end a run of three league defeats in a row. Suspensions for Rafinha and Fabian Ernst meant that two changes had to be made in any case. Christian Pander thus returned to the team after almost four months out through injury, along with Gustavo Varela, who had been out for as long as ten months. In a further change to the side that began in Portugal, Ivan Rakitic came in for Carlos Grossmüller.

The Royal Blues started the game well. "We dominated the opening stages and had a lot of the ball, which was important for our game", said Slomka. Varela had a goal ruled out for a foul by Kevin Kuranyi after just six minutes, and then Christian Eigler fashioned a golden opportunity for the home side on 21. But as in Porto, Manuel Neuer was almost unbeatable. "That was a sensational save by Neuer. Bielefeld's game plan would have come off were it not for that, as they set out to play a counterattacking game on their own turf", said a relieved Slomka. "After Manuel's superb stop we woke up and were back in it", said general manager Andreas Müller.

For in the next few minutes the Royal Blues created three great chances. And Varela took the first of these on 24 after some good work by Heiko Westermann to give his side a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later Rakitic was denied by goalkeeper Matthias Hain, and then Halil Altintop saw a tremendous volley smash against the bar. The game was thus far from over as a contest. Varela, who put everything into his 45 minutes after his long injury lay-off, was too exhausted to carry on at half-time.

Bielefeld started the second half the busier of the two sides, but Neuer pulled off another brilliant reaction save to keep out Eigler's header the first time they threatened (62'). The Royal Blues, meanwhile, proved very effective. They offered very little at the back over the 90 minutes, and up front one more chance was all they needed. Christian Pander floated in a free-kick to Kuranyi, who knocked the ball back across goal to Altintop. And the Turkey striker settled things with his fourth Bundesliga goal of the season (74'). "The game was over when we scored our second", said Slomka, delighted about a win that saw his side climb back into fifth place.

Before the game the gap to third place was six points, now it is down to three, at least until Sunday. And even if Hamburg do win in Nürnberg, it will be a maximum of five. So in this respect Schalke have definitely clawed back one point.

"I said beforehand that everything would have to go perfectly if we were to beat a side like Schalke" said Bielefeld coach Michael Frontzeck. "And Manuel Neuer pulled off another world-class save, I don't know how many that makes it this week."

Bielefeld: Hain – Korzynietz, Kucera, Mijatovic, Rau – Tesche (Böhme 46'), Kauf, Marx (Kamper 72') – Zuma – Eigler, Wichniarek
Schalke: Neuer – Westermann, Bordon (Höwedes 86'), Krstajic, Pander – Jones – Varela (Streit 46'), Kobiashvili – Rakitic – Kuranyi, Altintop (Sanchez 78')
Referee: Weiner (Giesen)
Goals: 0-1 Varela (24'), 0-2 Altintop (74')
Attendance: 26,100
Yellow cards: Mijatovic (2), Böhme (5/1), Kauf (5/1) – Bordon (5/3), Jones (5/1)