Highlights
D. Siebert
Full-time
90'
+ 5
AS THINGS STAND
This result will see Schalke sit seven points adrift of the relegation play-off spot, with Cologne jumping eight points clear of the bottom two.
90'
+ 3
A HUGE GOAL IN THE RELEGATION BATTLE!
The substitute has broken Schalke's hearts and given Cologne what could be a huge, huge win. The away side break with Thielmann, who is found with a fantastic through-ball forward from Rexhbecaj. Thielmann races into the Schalke box before slotting the ball across Fährmann. What a huge moment this could turn out to be!
90'
+ 1
ADDED TIME
We'll have six minutes of added time at the end of this one.
89'
BOOKINGS
An off-the-ball encounter between Horn and Boujellab sees the pair booked.
88'
STRIKERS ON
Markus Gisdol brings on fresh legs in attack for the final minutes, looking to take advantage of the counter-attack with Thielmann and Arokodare on.
88'
Substitution
88'
Substitution
85'
COLOGNE SITTING BACK
The away side look happy with a point here, and are sat back in their own half ready to defend what they have.
81'
PLAYERS DOWN
Kabak and Bornauw collide in the air with the pair both going for the same ball into the Cologne box. Looks like they should both be able to continue but Bornauw is having some further treatment.
81'
Substitution
79'
HARIT EVERYWHERE
The Schalke playmaker is getting in all the right positions and causing havoc on the ball for the Cologne defence. He's even won a game-high 25 duels so far. If Schalke are to win this game, expect him to be involved in the goal.
77'
SCHALKE FIGHTING FOR IT
76'
INTO THE FINAL 15...
Only Mainz have conceded more goals than Schalke in the final 15 minutes of games this season. They're on the front foot here, though, with Cologne looking to work with the counter. A winning goal would be absolutely massive.
72'
TRIPLE CHANGE
Schalke have dominated this game in the last 20 minutes or so and Gross now sends some fresh legs on. Oczipka, Boujellab and Mascarell all on with Kolasinac coming off with a knock.
72'
Substitution
72'
Substitution
72'
Substitution
71'
Substitution
IN HOPPE, THERE IS HOPE
© Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
67'
BOTH SIDES WANT TO WIN
This is going to be a fun final 20 minutes here, with both sides going all out for three points. Schalke looking the most likely to score again, but they also did in the first half when Cologne took the lead...
66'
ALMOST IN FRONT
Horn drops a corner into the Cologne box and there are players poking for the ball around him, but luckily the Cologne 'keeper is able to drop onto the ball just two yards out in front of his own net.
64'
KOLASINAC ALL ALONE!
The Schalke captain flies forward from the back, sprinting 60 yards up the pitch before beating two defenders on the edge of the Cologne box and dragging his shot wide. He's gone down here, though, which is a worrying sign for the home side.
62'
ALL SCHALKE HERE!
Goal attempts
6off target
8on target
7off target
3on target
62'
STAMBOULI HAS A GO
The ball runs loose in front of Stambouli 30 yards from goal and he strikes it low towards Horn. It's a good save from the man between the sticks for Cologne as he parries the ball past the post.
59'
QUEING UP FOR IT!
Chances galore for Schalke as Cologne fail to clear their lines in their own box. Raman and Uth both have shots blocked with what appeared to be almost the entire Cologne team in their own penalty area defending from falling behind.
57'
HOPPE IS AT IT AGAIN!
His fifth shot in the Bundesliga and his fifth goal, incredible! It's all Serdar here for Schalke as he forces a loose ball forward into the Cologne area. Cestic blocks it away, but it falls to Hoppe, who slots the ball over Horn with a lovely finish.
54'
OFF THE POST!
Very nearly an own goal and very nearly 2-0 for Cologne. The Billy Goats look to punish their hosts on the counter with Wolf flying up the right flank. His cross almost finds Duda in the middle but Stambouli slides in to block, and inadvertently sends the ball onto his own post and it bounces away.
49'
STAMBOULI BOOKED
The Schalke midfielder takes the first caution of the game for either side.
46'
BACK UNDERWAY!
Cologne ahead but their scorer has come off at the break with Katterbach on in his place. He goes to the left side of Cologne's defence.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 1
Substitution
45'
+ 1
NO SHOT FOR HOPPE!
A huge chance at the end of the first half as Kolasinac breaks down the left and finds Hoppe all alone at the back post. He can't quite control the ball though and ends up trying to get around Horn, but the chance is cleared. Schalke do well to win it back and Uth has a shot blocked over.
Half-time
44'
LOOKING STABLE
Cologne able to keep possession far better at the end of this second half, with Schalke easing off and not pressing as well as they did in the first 30 minutes of this game.
THAT BIG GOAL FEELING!
© Pool/Friedemann Vogel - Pool/Getty Im
37'
BIG CHANCE!
Ehizibue does everything right as he plays a lovely one-two with Drexler in the Schalke box. He gets the ball back on the run into the six-yard box but takes a heavy touch, which allows Fährmann to save from his attempted chip.
37'
HARIT BATTLING HARD
Duels won
10
5
Amine Harit Sebastiaan Bornauw
34'
ALMOST BACK IN IT
Schalke press forward straight away and it's Harit in the Cologne area, twisting and turning and finally shooting, only to see his effort deflected past Horn and cleared from just in front of his own goal by Czichos.
31'
CZICHOS OPENS THE SCORING!
Cologne and their set pieces do the trick. It's a corner which is punched to the back post by Fährmann, and Drexler gathers it. He smashes the ball back across the face of goal and Czichos is perfectly placed to head it home with his 1st goal of the season. A huge goal for Cologne to go ahead!
30'
COLOGNE BUILDING PRESSURE
A good few minutes here for the away side who are building pressure at the other end of the pitch with successive corners. Schalke are struggling to deal with them, with a near-post flick-on from Wolf almost being put home by Czichos.
27'
UTH FIRES OVER!
Lovely interplay from Schalke after a throw-in. Harit and Uth combine before the former set up Uth eight yards from goal and he fires a first-time shot away. He's leaning back, though, and sends his effort flying high over the crossbar.
26'
HARIT ON THE RUN!
Kolasican brings down a long ball on the left and finds Harit in the middle. He has space ahead of him and races 20 yards forward before curling an effort for the far bottom corner, but Horn makes another solid save. This game opening up more and more now.
24'
FIRST CHANCE!
A first real attacking moment for Cologne as Duda whips in a fantastic free-kick from the left flank. It dips just between Fährmann, a defender and Skhiri up for the set piece. Fährmann makes a good late save with the ball bouncing in the six-yard box in front of him.
22'
HOPPE HAS A GO
A tidy backheel from Raman gives Hoppe the ball on the right flank. He races inside and decides to have a go with a curling shot on his weaker left foot and this one doesn't trouble in the Cologne goal.
COLOGNE ON THE BACK FOOT
© Pool/Friedemann Vogel - Pool/Getty Im
15'
CHANCES FEW AND FAR BETWEEN
Schalke looking to stay on the ball and keep Cologne under pressure here, with the away side tending to sit back and bide their time themselves. Serdar's early shot on goal the only chance that has been produced, with Schalke still looking the most likely.
12'
SCHALKE DOMINANT
Possession (%)
7327
9'
WOLF RIGHT UP TOP
It's Marius Wolf and Ondrej Duda leading the line for Cologne, especially when they're out of possession. A 5-3-2 formation is deployed in that situation, with Cologne defending first here so far.
6'
SPREADING THE PLAY
Gross has his side staying wide across the big Veltins-Arena pitch. Both full-backs and wingers sticking to the touchline to make the pitch as big as possible, and attempt to bring Cologne out of their defensive set-up.
4'
SERDAR HAS A GO!
A great hit from Serdar with the first sight of goal for either side. Schalke break and the midfielder is found in space with a cut-back to the edge of the Cologne area. His strike is beaten away by Horn before Kolasinac is called offside with the rebound. A bright start from the hosts.
1'
HERE WE GO!
The ball is rolling in Gelsenkirchen for the first game of our Wednesday evening in the Bundesliga.
Kick-off!
TEAM NEWS
Both Schalke and Cologne are unchanged despite the midweek game coming between fixtures last weekend and this coming weekend. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - who signed for Schalke yesterday - is at the stadium but not involved in the squad this evening for the hosts, who have Hoppe and Uth leading the attack once more.
3:16
WATCH: HOPE IN HOPPE
TALE OF THE TAPE
Schalke have won just one of their last 10 Bundesliga games against Cologne: a 3-1 away victory on 5 March, 2016. Cologne are unbeaten in six matches with the Royal Blues, winning twice. It's their best run against Schalke since the 1960s.
RELEGATION SIX-POINTER
It's bottom against third-bottom tonight as Schalke (18th) host Cologne (16th) with five points between the two sides. If Cologne get a win, it would but a huge dampener in Schalke's survival chances. While a win for the Royal Blues gets them right back into the mix.
2:03
LAST SEASON: COLOGNE 1-1 SCHALKE - HIGHLIGHTS
SCHALKE STARTING XI!
Fährmann - Becker, Kabak, Nastasic, Kolasinac (c) - Raman, Stambouli, Serdar, Harit - Hoppe, Uth
SCHALKE SUBS
Rönnow, Mendyl, Mascarell, Kutucu, Boujellab, Oczipka, Thiaw, Mercan, Bozdogan
COLOGNE STARTING XI!
T. Horn - Cestic, Bornauw, Czichos - Ehizibue, Skhiri, Hector (c), J. Horn - Wolf, Drexler - Duda
COLOGNE SUBS
Zieler, Schmitz, Katterbach, Arokodare, Jakobs, Rexhbecaj, Özcan, Modeste, Thielmann
Welcome!
Here you will find the most important information on the game between FC Schalke 04 and 1. FC Köln on Matchday 17 of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season.