Round of 16: Schalke - Palermo Report
Schalke through to UEFA Cup quarter-finals after 3-0 win over Palermo
Schalke 04 are the only German side left in Europe after a 3-0 win over US Palermo in the second leg of their last-32 UEFA Cup tie at the VELTINS Arena on Thursday evening. A Levan Kobiashvili penalty and further goals from Sören Larsen and Mimoun Azaouagh saw Mirko Slomka's team through to the quarter-finals.
There was bad news and good news for Slomka before kick-off. Marcelo Bordon was ruled out by a thigh injury and was replaced by Darío Rodriguez in central defence. Mladen Krstajic and Zlatan Bajramovic were available, though, and Gustavo Varela, against all expectations after sustaining an injury in training on Wednesday, was at least among the substitutes.
It became clear from the outset why Palermo had progressed so far in this year's UEFA Cup. The Sicilians kept things very tight at the back and posed a constant threat with their lightening-quick counterattacks. In the 13th minute Mladen Krstajic needed all his experience to defuse a Palermo attack 30 metres from his own goal as the last outfield player. Then goalkeeper Frank Rost was forced to use his head to clear the ball from Santana. And on 22 minutes Massimo Mutarelli's 30-metre lob only narrowly missed the target, though Rost would have been on hand to save if necessary.
Schalke needed a good half an hour to carve out some meaningful chances of their own. On 35 Bajramovic earned the plaudits of the crowd for a courageous volley from 14 metres, even though it flashed high and wide. Three minutes later Larsen went a good deal closer with a shot from 16 metres that fizzed over the bar. But Palermo remained a threat from set pieces, as they showed four minutes before the interval when Kenwullah Conteh headed Eugenio Corini's free-kick just over from close range.
Corini was in the thick of things again two minutes later, this time at the other end. Christian Poulsen sent in a corner to the back post for Larsen to head the ball back across goal to Krstajic, who poked it past Palermo keeper Mariano Andujar, only for Corini to clear his effort off the line – with his hand. Referee Graham Poll pointed the spot and showed the Palermo captain the red card. And to the relief of the home crowd Levan Kobiashvili converted the penalty to put Schalke ahead.
The Royal Blues almost doubled their lead twice in time added on. First Larsen missed the target with a volley and then, after Asamoah had won possession and slipped the ball to Azaouagh in the penalty area, the diminutive midfielder curled his shot narrowly wide of the left-hand upright.
After the interval Schalke went in search of the goal that would see them through to the quarter-finals. And it almost came just two minutes in when the in-form Asamoah again gained possession and showed great vision to cut the ball back to Bajramovic. But the Bosnian's effort did not have enough power to trouble Andujar.
Next it was Schalke's turn to breathe a sigh of relief when Barzagli unleashed a shot on goal after a free-kick had been blocked that Rost could only gather at the second attempt. But the response was not long in coming. Rafinha crossed the ball to Larsen, who from a standing position got in a dangerous header that flew just past the left-hand angle of the goal.
The game was settled in the final 20 minutes. First Rafinha was shown the yellow card by Poll after throwing himself theatrically to the ground after a slight push. It was the Schalke right-back's fifth caution in European competition this season and means he will miss the quarter-final first leg on 30 March. Two minutes, though, the Brazilian delivered his response in the form of a pass to Asamoah, who made his way to the by-line before floating the ball over Andujar's head to leave Larsen the easiest of headed chances at the back post.
A 2-0 scoreline would have been enough to see Schalke through but they were not about to mistake the mistake of sitting on their lead, electing instead to continue driving forward. And ten minutes from time they got their reward. Kobiashvili took a quick throw-in to Asamoah, who shrugged off the challenge of two defenders in the penalty box before threading through a brilliant square pass to Azaouagh, enabling the former Mainz man to net his first goal for Schalke and book his team's place in the next round.
