Seven of Schalke’s goals this season have been scored in the first 23 minutes. What captain Kenan Karaman and opposing coaches have to say.

Last season, FC Schalke 04 needed 18 games to reach 21 points – the Royal Blues have now reached that mark after just nine games.

Coach Miron Muslic’s recipe for success is no longer a secret: concentrated defensive work on a high line, running strength, intensity, power pressing, direct play forward, good set pieces. But there is something else that is important: early goals. The Royal Blues have already scored seven times in the first 25 minutes.

And Schalke won all four games in which they took an early lead. Goals from Moussa Sylla (16th minute) and Nikola Katic (23rd minute) made it 2-0 against Hertha BSC, resulting in a 2-1 victory on the first matchday.

Kenan Karaman scored in the tenth minute on the fifth matchday to make it 1-0 in Magdeburg – the final score was 2-0. On the eighth matchday, Christopher Antwi-Adjei (11th minute) and Hasan Kurucay (18th minute) gave Schalke a 2-0 lead in Bielefeld, with S04 winning 2-1. In the 3-0 win in Hannover, Sylla’s brace (3rd/14th) quickly made it 2-0. Schalke captain Karaman: “We’re taking advantage of that.” Schalke’s courage is even noticeable when S04 has the kickoff. The defenders, who are strong in the air, orient themselves directly forward, and Schalke often managed to score in the first scene. But what is the secret? From Schalke’s point of view, captain Kenan Karaman puts it this way: “We win a lot of balls at the beginning of a game when the opponent wants to play a lot from the back. We take advantage of that ruthlessly. That’s our style of play, even if there’s sometimes a bit of luck involved. The quick goals are obviously good for us.” Antwi-Adjei, for example, scored his goal in Bielefeld with a bit of luck when he benefited from a misplaced pass by the opposing goalkeeper.

And how do the opponents see it? Hannover coach Christian Titz saw the early stages as the key to the 0-3 defeat: “We lost it in the first 15 to 20 minutes. We weren’t in the game. The first goal we conceded was a blow for us.” Two weeks ago, Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat said: “In the first 20 to 25 minutes, we made it far too easy for our opponents.” After the opening game, Hertha coach Stefan Leitl analyzed: “In the first 20 minutes, we didn’t implement what we had planned. Schalke was very present, and we didn’t have the right solution to get out of the pressure.”

Schalke’s double date with Darmstadt 98

Now Darmstadt 98 has two chances to adjust to Schalke’s flying start. The teams will face each other both in the league (October 24) and in the DFB Cup (October 29).