Week 32 - Match report

Big points in Berlin as Westermann secures Champions League berth!

For Schalke it was a goal worth a double-digit million sum. The 1-0 win at Hertha BSC guaranteed the Royal Blues at least second spot and thus a place in the Champions League. Whether Heiko Westermann's goal could prove even more valuable is something the next two weeks will show.

The situation going into the game at the Olympic Stadium was that of a cup-tie. Only a win would be of any use to Schalke in the title race, while the Berliners needed the three points to keep alive their slender chance of avoiding the drop. The home side were also intent on ending the championship hopes of the "Gelsenkircheners", as the stadium announcer constantly referred to the visitors, stubbornly refusing to mention the word 'Schalke'.

In the first half both teams certainly had opportunities to near their objective. Gekas and Friedrich both missed chances for the home side, while Kevin Kuranyi was unable to take two at the other end. But the first 45 minutes were merely the overture to a second half that was much more dramatic.

The Royal Blues made a determined start after the interval and had several chances to take the lead through Hao, Farfan and Kuranyi. But at just after a quarter to five the scoreboard - which until that point had been encouraging the home side as their relegation rivals conceded goal after goal - exerted a curious influence on Schalke's game. It flashed up Borussia Mönchengladbach's opener against Bayern Munich, prompting the travelling fans in the visitors section to urge their team on even more resolutely and loudly than usual. As things stood, one goal was all Felix Magath's men needed to go top.

Yet the glad tidings from the Lower Rhine left the Royal Blues in total disarray for a while. "We started the second half well, but when the score came through from Gladbach we lost the plot completely and were no longer in control of the situation," said Magath - correctly. Between the 67th and the 75th minutes Hertha created at least four gilt-edged opportunities. Magath said: "We have Manuel Neuer to thank for thwarting their efforts and thus keeping us in the game."

Hertha coach Friedhelm Funkel understandably bemoaned his team's luck. "We had a lot of the game in that phase and a number of golden opportunities," he said. "But once again we failed to convert the clearest of chances into goals at home." So he was not surprised when the game developed the way it did. "When you're missing the clearest of chances you get a feeling on the touchline that a situation will eventually come that you can't clear."

Schalke skipper Heiko Westermann was left the privilege of scoring his side's winner with three minutes left after spadework by Vicente Sanchez and Jefferson Farfan. Bayern had already equalised by then, leaving both teams level on points, though the Munich outfit have a much better goal difference. With a seven-point gap to third, however, the Royal Blues can no longer be denied their fourth appearance in the group stage of the Champions League.

With no more danger from below, Schalke now have their sights set firmly on top spot. But Felix Magath conceded that the likelihood of Bayern dropping points is getting slimmer,  saying: "They can only slip up another two times. But they're still in the Champions League. If they get to the final there I'm convinced another draw awaits them…"

Magath concluded by dismissing speculation regarding his future. "No matter how the remaining matches go, you can be sure I'll continue my work at Schalke next year. Along with Clemens Tönnies we have agreed that we want to guide the club back to the top not just in the Bundesliga, but also in Europe."

Hertha: Drobny – Friedrich, von Bergen, Kobiashvili – Lustenberger (Dardai 77'), Piszczek – Cicero, Raffael, Kacar – Ramos (Domovchiyski 85'), Gekas
Schalke: Neuer – Rafinha, Höwedes, Bordon, Schmitz – Westermann – Kluge (Moritz 77'), Rakitic – Farfan (Edu 90'), Kuranyi, Hao (Sanchez 80')
Goals: 0-1 Westermann (87')
Referee: Dr Drees (Münster-Sarmsheim)
Attendance: 61,902
Yellow cards: Kobiashvili, Lustenberger - Westermann