2-1 at Schalke - Dragovic and Alario seal Werkself win

Heiko Herrlich made four changes to the side that faced Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend: Wendell, Julian Baumgartlinger, Leon Bailey and Lucas Alario started in place of Tin Jedvaj, Charles Aránguiz, Julian Brandt and Kevin Volland who all dropped down to the bench. As in the Frankfurt game, the skipper Lars Bender missed out through injury and was not part of the squad. 

There were emotional  scenes ahead of kick-off: Given the impending closure of the last German coal mine in the Ruhr region on Friday, the lights were turned off at the Veltins Arena as the miners song  (Steigerlied) was sung. After the gripping ceremony it was time for the match between the Royal Blues and the Black and Reds.

Most of the action in the opening minutes took place in midfield. Both sides endeavoured to be solid in defence and they cancelled each other out. Schalke had the first decent opportunity when Daniel Caligiuri played the ball back from the goal-line but Weston McKennie only caught it with his shoulder (12'). The hosts were the livelier of the two teams in the opening stages as the passing from Bayer 04  initially lacked the necessary accuracy. Then the Herrlich team created two good chances to take the lead within a minute. First, Wendell tested the Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann with a left-foot shot And seconds later Dominik Kohr had a great chance after a mistake in the build-up play from Schalke - Kohr was through on goal with only Fährmann to beat but he put his shot inches wide of the left upright (26'). 

Dragovic Opens the scoring

Bayer 04 stuck to their task and were rewarded for their efforts: after a fine shot from Bailey came back off the left-hand post Aleksandar Dragovic was first to react as he fired the ball into the net through the legs of Fährmann. The assistant had his flag raised but the referee  Deniz Aytekin correctly awarded the goal to the Werkself after consulting the VAR (27') as Caligiuri was playing everyone onside.  

Alario Scores, Wright Pulls goal back

The hosts were shaken and the Black and Reds were able to exploit the situation. A cross from Wendell was taken down by Lucas Alario with his back to goal and he was able to beat Matija Nastasic on the turn and hit his shot into the net from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 for the Werkself (35'). Fährmann could have done better as the ball was heading for the middle of the goal. 

The Werkself were extremely clinical but the Royal Blues refused to give up. It was disappointing that Schalke pulled a goal back just before half-time: A corner from Bastian Oczipka was headed goalwards by McKennie and Wright only needed to stick his foot out to convert from close range to make it 2-1 (45'+1).

The hosts had the first chance in the second half when Caligiuri broke through down the right flank but Mitchell Weiser was able to make the block (53'). Dragovic went off injured on the hour mark. He was replaced in central defence by Tin Jedvaj.  The game became more heated and there were a number of physical challenges. Schalke pressed for the equaliser but missed their chances through Steven Skrzybski (68') and Yevhen Konoplyanka who was through on Hradecky but Jedvaj helped put him off his shot as his effort went wide of the target (73'). The Werkself tried to ease the pressure with counter-attacks. It was a pity that a pass from Karim Bellarabi to Kevin Volland Went astray (71') and also that a Volland lay-off from a Bellarabi cross  did not reach the advancing Havertz (78').

Solid at the back

Schalke continue to search for the leveller but the Werkself were well organised in defence and waited for the chance to play on the break. Caligiuri tried with a long-range effort but it went past the right-hand post (83'). At the other end, Bailey then put the ball over the bar (84'). A shot from Salif Sané from a corner also went over the top of the target (87'). The Werkself put in a great effort and remained solid at the back while Weiser had a chance with a header late on that was saved by Fährmann (90'+1). Bayer 04 showed great commitment to hold on to the 2-1 lead to secure three very important points at the Veltins Arena.

The Werkself Play the last match of the first half of the season in three days on Saturday 22 December. Bayer 04 entertain Hertha Berlin at the BayArena  with a 15.30 CET kick-off.

Match stats:

FC Schalke 04: Fährmann - Stambouli, S. Sané, Nastasic - D. Caligiuri, McKennie, Bentaleb (Serdar 54'), Oczipka - Schöpf (Konoplyanka 70'), Harit - Wright (Skrzybski 54')

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Tah, Dragovic (Jedvaj 60'), Wendell – Baumgartlinger, Kohr - Bellarabi (S. Bender 89'), Havertz, Bailey - Alario (Volland 70')

Goals: 0-1 Dragovic (26'), 0-2  Alario (35'), 1-2 Wright (45' +1)

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)

Booked:  Harit, Stambouli, Serdar, McKennie - Bellarabi, Baumgartlinger, Hradecky, Weiser

Attendance: 55,000