FC Schalke 04 was shown up by RB Leipzig. The bottom team in the Bundesliga lost 1:6 (0:4) to RB Leipzig.
Tim Skarke stood there in the zero-to-four-degree cold in Gelsenkirchen in a warming coat and was supposed to evaluate the previous 45 minutes of football.
The FC Schalke 04 newcomer had to state that RB Leipzig had been uncompromisingly consistent; the cup winners from Saxony had unmistakably exposed every conceivable class difference between themselves and the hosts in the first half of the Bundesliga match. “It’s a difficult situation,” so said the 26-year-old Skarke, on loan from Union Berlin on Monday night, “a tough task – but it’s definitely doable.”
It was 0:4 from Schalke’s point of view when Skarke came to that assessment; which is just what you say and certainly hope for when you move to the league’s bottom team. The 26-year-old winger was then actually shown in isolated moments that Schalke can pull something off when the opponent is not Leipzig. For example, Soichiro Kozuki’s goal in the 56th minute or Michael Frey’s shot a little later. The bottom line, however, was a 1:5 (0:4), which basically spoiled the evening for the Schalke supporters.
Striker Michael Frey, on loan from Stade Brest during the winter World Cup break, was in the starting eleven this time in place of the hitherto luckless promotion hero Simon Terodde. It was the only change coach Thomas Reis had made compared to the not-so-terrible 0:3 at Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday. However, there was nothing of the impression the Schalkers had made in Hesse to be seen against Leipzig.
Without exaggeration: It was the weakest half since Thomas Reis took over the team on matchday twelve. Eleven Schalke players were on the pitch in royal blue jerseys, but physically and mentally none of them looked present. Not even when RB striker André da Silva enjoyed a loneliness unusual in the Bundesliga, took his measure from 20 metres and was able to overcome S04 goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow with a low shot for Leipzig’s 1:0 (7th minute). Then the visitors converted a Schalker throw-in on the right side into an attack, which Benjamin Hinrichs, who was left alone at left back by the indisposed winter newcomer Jere Uronen, completed with the 2:0 (15th). In addition, da Silva scored a tap-in (44th) and in first-half stoppage time Timo Werner, still very unpopular in Gelsenkirchen, scored from close range – Schalker fans who had a cap on their heads to keep their ears warm wanted to pull it over their eyes so they wouldn’t have to watch any more.
Those who did pull it up again at least got to see how the Schalke team did not completely give up. The second half must even be given the seal of approval Ordentlich. Especially as Soichiro Kozuki, who still cut the best figure on the ball, beat Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich to make it 1:4 after a pass from Michael Frey. The Schalkers were no longer so passive, no longer like the intimidated rabbit in front of the snake – but that was all they could manage against RB. Dani Olmo (83rd minute) and Yussuf Poulsen (89th) with the fifth and sixth goal made everything clear for the visitors.
Tim Skarke had said one thing during the break: “My strengths are speed and the will to want to win. We need positive energy now.” Preferably as early as Sunday (3.30 p.m.) against 1. FC Köln.
