90'
+ 4
HARIT DOES THE BUSINESS AGAIN
What a week it's been for Amine Harit. Two goals last week in the 5-1 win at Paderborn, and now a stunning goal to win Schalke three more points at the end here against Mainz. Special moments like that can make the difference in a season, and these three points take Schalke joint-top of the Bundesliga for at least a night as they go level with RB Leipzig on 10 points.
Full-time
90'
+ 1
ADDED TIME
Into three minutes of added time now with Mainz pushing forward...
89'
OH WHAT A GOAL!
A free-kick is cleared as far as Kenny on the edge of the Schalke box. He plays the ball to Harit, who has one thing in mind. He races past Onisiwo and towards the box before curling the ball with the outside of his foot into the far bottom corner. What a lovely, lovely goal to possibly win this game.
87'
HARIT SO SO CLOSE!
The midfielder can't lose the ball as he exchanges a one-two on the edge of the Mainz box while holding off the challenge of a defender. He then takes a stinging shot at goal which goes narrowly wide of Zentner's goal.
86'
ANYONE'S GAME HERE
This game really could go either way here with both sides pouring forward at any opportunity.
81'
Substitution
79'
UTH HAS A GO
Now it's the turn of a Schalke substitute to go for goal as the German forward opens space for a shot from the edge of the box. It rebounds off Zentner though.
77'
MASCARELL'S EFFORT SAVED
The ball bounces into space in the Mainz box and the Spaniard is in the perfect spot to get on the end of it. He swivels to meet the ball with a volley, but it's straight at the hands of Zentner.
76'
Substitution
75'
MAINZ GET THEIR GOAL
They have been dominant in the last 10 minutes here and deservedly get their goal. Boetius has possession on the edge of the box, and is given too much time and space to work an opening to pass inside towards Onisiwo. The substitute turns in the box and fires a superb shot into the far top corner, beyond Nübel's reach.
71'
FERNANDES FIRES OVER
The midfielder is in a great position to strike at goal after a cut-back from Quaison, but his strike is high over the crossbar. Mainz on top right now, but unable to make the most of their chances to really test Nübel.
71'
Substitution
67'
SZALAI WITHIN INCHES
Huge chance for Mainz as Martin's curling free-kick loops into the box and lands between Szalai and Nübel. The Mainz forward is inches from getting his head to the ball, which would've seen it go past the Schalke No.1 and into the net, but he can't stretch enough to meet it and it goes out for a goal kick.
63'
SHOULD BE 2-0!
Caligiuri's cross into the box is met by Burgstaller, but his header goes off target from in front of goal. He and the Schalke team are asking for a penalty, but VAR does not check the incident.
60'
Substitution
58'
Substitution
58'
Substitution
58'
MCKENNIE EVERYWHERE
The American embodies everything that Schalke fans want from their players. He gives everything for every ball and never gives it up until it's fully gone. He battles away with two midfielders to keep the ball on the edge of the Mainz box before passing the ball wide. He then gets on the end of the cross and heads wide of goal. A tireless midfield warrior.
56'
SERDAR FLUFFS HIS LINES
Schalke win the ball high up the pitch and Serdar is the one bringing it forward towards the Mainz box. It's a five on three for the home side, but the midfielder can't pick out the right pass.
54'
SCHALKE WORKING WITH WIDTH
Jonjoe Kenny and Bastian Oczipka have had the most touches of the ball of any Schalke players so far tonight. The two wing-backs are getting heavily involved both in attack and defence, and that's where Schalke are looking to work forward from.
51'
LATZA HEADS WIDE
First chance of the second half falls to Mainz. A cross from the right with Brosinski goes all the way to Martin on the other wing, and he swings in another cross which is met by the head of Latza. The captain's effort well wide of the target, though.
46'
SECOND HALF BEGINS
No changes at the break as we get things back underway at Schalke.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 1
SERDAR HAS SCHALKE AHEAD
A scrappy first half separate by one fine moment of movement and finishing from Schalke, with Harit showing his quality once again. Serdar's finish wasn't bad either, but Mainz will be feeling good going into the second half despite the scoreline. They have not been outplayed here but Nübel is still yet to be properly tested in the Schalke goal.
Half-time
41'
WHAT AN EFFORT FROM BURGSTALLER
He's not the most agile of strikers, but Burgstaller almost produced a gorgeous scissor-kick goal there. Ozcipka's looping cross into the box drifts towards the penalty spot and Burgstaller tracks its course to meet it. He goes for a volley on the turn, with his left foot, and it's inches wide of the top corner.
36'
SERDAR AGAINST HIS FORMER CLUB
A superbly well-worked goal from the home side and, you guessed it, Harit is the architect. He drifts in from the left wing and looks up to spot Serdar's run into the box. His pass is perfectly timed and Serdar takes it in his stride before smashing the ball past Zentner at the near post. A goal against his former club, and his second of the season.
35'
HARIT HIGH AND WIDE
First shot on goal for almost 10 minutes as Harit has space 25 yards from goal. His effort is a poor one though, and even he shakes his head as it sails over the crossbar. Both sides looking for that creative edge.
32'
SCHALKE FANS STAYING QUIET
Schalke have tweeted that emergency services are currently attending to a medical situation in the stadium with a fan, hence the fact that the Schalke home fans have gone quiet in the Arena.
27'
SANE HEADS WIDE
A great corner swings in from Ozcipka and finds the head of Sane above all others in the box. But the defender can't angle the ball towards goal with his effort.
24'
SERDAR FIRES OVER
A nice opening for Schalke as Caligiuri works his way into the Mainz box. He tricks his way past Martin and looks for a teammate in the box with the pass. Serdar eventually ends up with it after Harit's loss of possession and works a shot at goal, but it's high and wide over Zentner.
21'
KUNDE WITH THE STRIKE
A Mainz corner is cleared well by the Schalke defence, and falls to Kunde who is 30 yards from goal. A touch to compose and he goes for goal with a volley which bounces just wide of Nübel's goal with the Schalke No.1 not certain of where it was going...
17'
MAINZ NOW PUSHING ON
While looking comfortable when in possession the away side had yet to threaten on goal until now. Boetius involved as he wins a corner for his side, which comes to nothing in the end. But good signs for Mainz fans that their team are coming into this match.
14'
HARIT FINDS AN OPENING
Great play from McKennie to release his creative teammate towards the Mainz defence. He goes on and on to the edge of the box before playing a pass through to Burgstaller. The Austrian is offside, though, before Zentner saves from his effort on goal.
11'
HARIT IN FORM
On the back of his two-goal performance, the Morrocan international looks in fine fettle once again tonight. Operating from the left, the attacking midfielder is drifting into the middle of the pitch to get on the ball in the early goings. Proving difficult for Mainz to track.
5'
SCHALKE STARTING CONFIDENTLY
The home side are in control of the ball in these early stages without causing too much of a threat to the Mainz goal. McKennie certainly supporting Burgstaller in attack.
1'
UNDERWAY AT SCHALKE
The opening game of the Matchday 5 weekend is underway...
Kick-off!
FRIDAY NIGHT ATMOSPHERE
The Veltins-Arena is bouncing at both ends tonight with the home support its raucous self, while Mainz have travelled in numbers to support their team in Gelsenkirchen.
MAINZ LOOKING FOR FORM
After three defeats in a row to start the season, Mainz got back to winning ways with their victory over Hertha Berlin last time out. If Schwarz's side want to push themselves away from the relegation spots then they need to find some consistency.
ROYAL BLUES BACK TO THE TOP?
Incredibly, Schalke's form is such that David Wagner's side can go top of the table overnight tonight should they beat Mainz by three goals or more. They currently sit sixth, three points off league leaders RB Leipzig with the goal differences between the sides separated by those three goals. They put five past Paderborn last time out, and three past Hertha in their last home game...
MAINZ STAY THE SAME FOR A CHANGE
For the first time since January 2019, Sandro Schwarz has kept his Mainz side unchanged from their win over Hertha Berlin last week. Will keeping the same side together bring good fortune for the away side tonight?
MCKENNIE UP FRONT?
As strange as it sounds, it's happened before. The United States international, who prefers to play from midfield, has played as a centre forward twice for Schalke. However, not so far this season under David Wagner. Considering a midfield already filled with Suat Serdar, Oscar Mascarell, Amine Harit and Daniel Caligiuri, it would appear McKennie is back in the Schalke starting XI as a striker.
MAINZ LINE-UP!
Zentner – Brosinski, St. Juste, Niakhate, Martin – Fernandes, Kunde, Latza (c) – Boetius – Quaison, Szalai (SUBS: Müller, Hack, Pierre-Gabriel, Baku, Barreiro, Maxim, Öztunali, Burkhardt, Onisiwo)
SCHALKE LINE-UP!
Nübel (c) – Kenny, Stambouli, Sane, Oczipka – Caligiuri, Serdar, Mascarell, Harit – McKennie, Burgstaller (SUBS: Schubert, Kabak, Nastasic, Schöpf, Mercan, Uth, Matondo)
ALMOST TIME!
With around an hour until kick-off it's almost time to see those all-important line-ups for this, the first game of Matchday 5 in the Bundesliga. Got your Fantasy teams ready?
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Schalke vs. Mainz from matchday 5 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the VELTINS-Arena. Check back here for full information on the match.