Schalke scored the first win of 2023 against VfB Stuttgart. Ralf Fährmann’s performance caused discussions on Doppelpass.

Schalke 04 scores again and reports back in the relegation battle. They scored a much-needed 2:1 (2:0) win against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday evening. The first three goals in 109 days after 403 minutes have lifted the bottom team back into the relegation battle. They are now only three points behind the 15th place. Next weekend, the explosive tram derby awaits the currently weakening penultimate-placed VfL Bochum.

A mistake by Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann caused unnecessary tension. The 34-year-old only conceded his first goal after a good hour since returning to the Knappen goal after the first half of the season. The veteran let Borna Sosa’s long-range shot slip through his hands and into the net.

On Sport1-Doppelpass on Sunday, where Funke sports director Sebastian Weßling was also a guest expert, this caused a discussion about the abilities of Schalke goalkeepers Fährmann and Alexander Schwolow. Former international Stefan Effenberg was harshly critical of Fährmann. “He’s not a particularly good goalkeeper, but that’s another topic,” said Effenberg and then became more explicit in his criticism: “I’ve been following him for a long time. I say that Ralf Fährmann is not a good goalkeeper. They’re not in a good position there either, but you should keep something like that in the squad across the board. A good goalkeeper is not only important at the top of the table, but also in the relegation battle. At the back, the decision will be who is the better goalkeeper. But the coach is under pressure at some point if you concede 45 goals with Schwolow beforehand.” For Effenberg, Fährmann is no more than an “okay goalkeeper”.

Backing Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann received support from the German national goalkeeper Almuth Schult. The mistake before the 1:2 was “human”, she said. “If he had taken a step instead of a jump, he probably would have blocked the ball. But it is also normal to underestimate a ball. And that’s especially true with these new types of balls, which don’t rotate so much, but flutter. You have to stand very upright and have contact with the ground. But it happens, even if it’s stupid. “