Agency :
Stuttgart’s Nicola Gonzalez scored his first Bundesliga goal and forced Schalke to a share of the spoils following a 1-1 draw in the sixth round of this season’s Bundesliga on Friday.
Schalke remains without a win in 22 Bundesliga matches as Malick Thiaw’s opener wasn’t enough to ensure all three points over Stuttgart.
Both sides focused on their defense from the start, with goalscoring opportunities at a premium over the opening 45 minutes.
Long-range efforts were the means of choice for both teams, but neither Schalke’s Mark Uth nor Stuttgart’s Pascal Stenzel was able to break the deadlock in the first 20 minutes.
But just when Stuttgart was assuming control, it was Schalke who opened the scoring against the run of play on the half-hour mark, when Thiaw nodded home Amine Harit’s pinpoint cross into the box.
The Royal Blues gained momentum but lacked in penetration to extend their lead before the break against the well-positioned visitors.
Stuttgart had some good fortune early in the second half as Salif Sane accidentally blocked a header on target with his arm to concede a penalty. Substitute Gonzalez stepped up and made no mistake to level the scores from the spot in the 56th minute.
Stuttgart pushed forward but Borna Sosa was unable to overcome Schalke goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow, while Gonzalez headed wide from a promising position in the 70th minute.
Schalke handed over control and defended deep with all men behind the ball, whereas Stuttgart started an onslaught. However, Stuttgart remained unlucky with its finishing in front of goal, while Schalke had to thank its goalkeeper Frederick Ronnow, who denied a number of chances in the closing period.
The hosts almost grabbed a winner in the dying seconds of the game, but Stuttgart keeper Gregor Kobel was alert to defuse Wataru Endo’s misplaced clearance.
With the result, newly-promoted Stuttgart climbs to 4th place in the table, while Schalke remains in 17th position.
“I think a victory would have been deserved. However, we also take the point,” Stuttgart’s head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo said.
The following fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: newcomer Arminia Bielefeld hosts third-placed Borussia Dortmund, Cologne faces defending champion Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt entertains Werder Bremen, Augsburg takes on Mainz and Borussia Monchengladbach encounters front-runner RB Leipzig.
Stuttgart’s Nicola Gonzalez scored his first Bundesliga goal and forced Schalke to a share of the spoils following a 1-1 draw in the sixth round of this season’s Bundesliga on Friday.
Schalke remains without a win in 22 Bundesliga matches as Malick Thiaw’s opener wasn’t enough to ensure all three points over Stuttgart.
Both sides focused on their defense from the start, with goalscoring opportunities at a premium over the opening 45 minutes.
Long-range efforts were the means of choice for both teams, but neither Schalke’s Mark Uth nor Stuttgart’s Pascal Stenzel was able to break the deadlock in the first 20 minutes.
But just when Stuttgart was assuming control, it was Schalke who opened the scoring against the run of play on the half-hour mark, when Thiaw nodded home Amine Harit’s pinpoint cross into the box.
The Royal Blues gained momentum but lacked in penetration to extend their lead before the break against the well-positioned visitors.
Stuttgart had some good fortune early in the second half as Salif Sane accidentally blocked a header on target with his arm to concede a penalty. Substitute Gonzalez stepped up and made no mistake to level the scores from the spot in the 56th minute.
Stuttgart pushed forward but Borna Sosa was unable to overcome Schalke goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow, while Gonzalez headed wide from a promising position in the 70th minute.
Schalke handed over control and defended deep with all men behind the ball, whereas Stuttgart started an onslaught. However, Stuttgart remained unlucky with its finishing in front of goal, while Schalke had to thank its goalkeeper Frederick Ronnow, who denied a number of chances in the closing period.
The hosts almost grabbed a winner in the dying seconds of the game, but Stuttgart keeper Gregor Kobel was alert to defuse Wataru Endo’s misplaced clearance.
With the result, newly-promoted Stuttgart climbs to 4th place in the table, while Schalke remains in 17th position.
“I think a victory would have been deserved. However, we also take the point,” Stuttgart’s head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo said.
The following fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: newcomer Arminia Bielefeld hosts third-placed Borussia Dortmund, Cologne faces defending champion Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt entertains Werder Bremen, Augsburg takes on Mainz and Borussia Monchengladbach encounters front-runner RB Leipzig.
