Highlights

90'
+ 9

Schalke off the bottom!

What a result for Schalke! The Royal Blues produce a stunning performance to climb off the bottom and into the relegation play-off spot, overnight hours at least. For once, they'll be cheering on local rivals Dortmund in Stuttgart tomorrow. Hertha are now propping up the rest of the table, with six rounds of fixtures to go.
Full-time
90'
+ 2

Pick that out!

Schalke arguably save the best for last as Kaminski steps up to whip a free-kick over the Hertha wall and beyond Christensen's despairing dive. What a performance from Reis's team!
90'
+ 2
Marcin Kamiński
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
8 %
90'

Time added on

Eight minutes is the call after all those injury-related stoppages.
90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
87'

Off the line!

Richter puts his body quite literally on the line this time to stop Karaman adding a fifth Schalke goal. Superb clearance!
85'

Hertha pull one back!

It ain't over until the Old Lady sings, apparently! Hertha break with Jovetic, who sends Lukebakio on his way. Ngankam receives the ball in the box and slips it to his left for Richter to turn home on the stretch. He takes a Matriciani fingernail to the eyebrow in the process, drawing blood.
84'
Marco Richter
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
95 %
83'

Just 21 goals before today for Schalke

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
4
2.22
0.77
4
Goals
78'

Schalke stretch their lead!

Surely three points in the bag! Matriciani picks off Serdar's pass in the Schalke half to kick-start a counter. Terodde lays it off and Latza sends an inviting pass over the top for Bülter. Christensen comes a long way out of his box, but Schalke's top scorer gets there first to lift the ball up and into the unguarded Hertha goal for his ninth of the campaign.
78'
Marius Bülter
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
35 %
77'

No faulting Hertha's effort levels

It's their attacking play that's cost them. That and Schalke's finishing
Distance run (km)
9
9.3
Alex Kral Stevan Jovetić
77'

Fastest runner (km/h)
33.26
33.96
Kenan Karaman Marc-Oliver Kempf
71'

No choice for Reis

Uronen replaces the injured Brunner for what will be Schalke's final change. Die Knappen will be in trouble, if anyone picks up an injury, having already used up all their allotted substitution windows.
70'

Yellow card

Ngankam catches Karaman on the shin, just when it looked like the break was on. The Hertha forward knew his team were a little too open, there.
69'

Brunner hurt

Schalke's right-back lands really awkwardly on his left shoulder after contesting an aerial challenge with Ngankam. The hosts will be forced into another change, here...
66'

Shoring up the midfield

A more defensive change for Schalke as Krauß replaces Drexler.
63'

Tame!

Ngankam and Lukebakio combine for a shooting opportunity for Kanga, but it's his first touch and he scuffs at his shot from inside the box. The Hertha sub is kicking himself!
60'

Over!

Schalke go straight on the attack, with Terodde winning a free-kick in a central position, 20 yards or so from goal. Bülter takes aim, but sends his effort a few yards over the crossbar.
59'

Big save!

Schwolow has to make a very late call as a teasing ball is clipped in towards Tousart in the box. The Hertha midfielder doesn't get a touch as Schalke's substitute keeper dives to his right to push the cross to safety.
55'

Attacking change

Ngankam, with two goals in his last four outings, replaces Dardai. That's a forward for a defender, moments after Schalke's Kaminski threatened a fourth goal, heading a Drexler corner wide.
53'

Finishing at its finest

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
3
1.7
0.4
3
Goals
49'

A third Schalke goal!

Karaman does step up! Schalke attack at break-neck speed after a promising Hertha move is snuffed out. Karaman leads a three-on-two, knocking the ball past his marker and racing in on goal, before cutting the ball across for Terodde to sweep in from close range. Reis could not have asked for a better response!
48'
Simon Terodde
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
82 %
46'

Enforced change

Another blow for Schalke. Skarke - who scored one and made another in the first half - suffered an ankle injury at the end of the first half and can't continue. Karaman is his replacement - he has to step up.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 5

Substitution

45'
+ 5

Half time! Schalke 2-1 Hertha

High drama in the Bundesliga basement. Schalke made a dream start, but Jovetic's fine finish on the stroke of half time gives Hertha every chance of getting something from the game.
Half-time
45'
+ 4

Jovetic halves the deficit!

Well, well - that makes Schwarz's job a tad easier. Lukebakio bides his time on the right-hand side of the area, before drifting in a cross. There doesn't appear to be much wrong with the clearance, but Jovetic is first to the loose ball and shows all his experience to dig out a shot that whistles past Schwolow into the back of the net.
45'
+ 3
Stevan Jovetić
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
3 %
45'
+ 1

Time added on

Into the first of four added minutes. A massive team talk is needed from Schwarz, you feel...
44'

Schalke the hot favourites to get the win

information
Schalke the hot favourites to get the win
0'
39 %
Now
91 %
40'

Proceed with caution

Boateng's booked after catching Latza when winding up for a shot following corner. No malice, there.
36'

Fährmann injured

That's a blow for Schalke - Fährmann seems to have pulled something in his groin. He's been so important for the Royal Blues since being reinstated as No.1 earlier this year. Ex-Hertha stopper Schwolow is on.
32'

Half chance!

Bülter on the right this time with a clipped ball across the six-yard box. Drexler tries to steer it on goal, but his diving header is into the side netting.
32'

Ice-cold Schalke

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
2
0.75
0.23
2
Goals
32'

Goal attempts
2off target
3on target
3off target
1on target
30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
2.
Dodi Lukébakio
Dodi Lukébakio33.75km/h
3.
Marius Bülter
Marius Bülter32.91km/h
28'

Denied!

Marton Dardai makes a crucial sliding challenge to stop Bülter's low ball into the box from finding the feet of Latza. Hertha still haven't recovered from conceding those two early goals.
27'

Attacking change

Cigerci is not a happy bunny as he makes way. He's clearly not injured, so that's a tactical decision from Schwarz to replace him with the more attack-minded Serdar.
23'

Terodde!

Lovely play from Schalke involving Kaminski and Bülter. Terodde takes aim from 20 yards, but Christensen is equal to it and parries clear.
camera-photo

There's always next week

Skarke's already hauled 12 points in Fantasy - but appears to have a zero percent ownership rating.
21'

What a save!

Jovetic catches his shot from a half-cleared free-kick really well, but Fährmann is able to touch it onto his left-hand post. He saw it late, too. Superb goalkeeping by the Schalke veteran.
19'

Chance!

Jovetic sends Lukebakio in behind the Schalke defence, but Matriciani does enough to put him off and the delayed shot goes wide. The flag then goes up for a marginal offside against Hertha's leading man.
16'

On the up

As things stand, Schalke are heading out of the bottom two - but there is a long, long way to go...
14'

Schalke double their lead!

The Royal Blues cannot have dreamed of a better start! Drexler releases Skarke into space down the right wing and he curls a pinpoint cross into the middle for the unmarked Bülter to nod home from close range!
13'
Marius Bülter
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
50 %
camera-photo

Milestone goal

Skarke's goal was his first in the Bundesliga, coming in his ninth top-flight outing. It's the earliest Schalke have scored all season. Furthermore, the midfielder becomes the club's 278th scorer in the Bundesliga – more than any other club.
10'

Hertha pressing

Schalke struggled to clear a Hertha attack - not helped by a couple of mis-kicks from defenders. The penalty area is crowded but the visitors have a couple of chances to shoot from the edge of the area, one of which is deflected out for a corner. Nervy stuff from the home side at the back there.
8'

Jovetic hits the post!

Fährmann comes off his line to try and punch a corner clear but he doesn't make a clean connection. The ball comes to Jovetic at the back post but his instant header hits the outside of the post and bounces wide.
7'

Jenz clears

Richter launches a long throw into the Schalke box, Tousart flicks it on but Jenz hoofs the ball clear.
5'

Massive boost

information
Massive boost
That early goal has drastically improved Schalke's chances of going on to win this game.
1'
39.5 %
Now
65.4 %
4'

What a goal!

Oh my! Schalke get off to the perfect start as Tim Skarke drives forward from midfield, gets the better of a couple of defenders on the edge of the area and curls an absolute beauty into the top corner!
3'

Tim Skarke

GOAL!

1:0
Tim Skarke
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
6 %
2'

Burst ball

You don't see that very often! There's a brief break in play as the match ball has burst. A replacement is quickly found though.
1'

Here we go!

Hertha get the ball rolling at the Veltins-Arena!
Kick-off!

Not long now!

The teams are out on the pitch, pre-match rituals are under way.

Something has to give!

Hertha have the worst away record in the division (five points) and are winless in 10 on the road. Schalke are the worst team at home (13 points). Not the most attractive pair of stats, but expect form to go out of the window in what's shaping up to be a wild ride to the finish line...

The state of play

Schalke are currently bottom on 21 points. Hertha are a point better off in 17th, with Stuttgart - who host Dortmund tomorrow - on 23 points in the relegation play-off spot. Then come Bochum (26pts) and Hoffenheim (28pts). Needless to say, a win for either side today would be HUGE!

Return of the Prince

Boateng made 60 competitive appearances for Schalke across the 2013/14 and 2014/15 campaigns. He's largely been a fringe player in this his final season before hanging up his playing boots, but makes his third straight start today.

Terodde time?

Terodde hit 30 goals in as many Bundesliga 2 games last season, but has just three in 27 Bundesliga appearances so far this term. His last strike came in mid-November - will the departing Schalke striker add to his tally on his first start since February?
0:11
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Watch: Inspecting the green baize

0:08
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Watch: Inside the Veltins-Arena

More on those teams

Maya Yoshida misses out for Schalke, so it's a centre-back pairing of Marcin Kaminski and the returning Moritz Jenz. Danny Latza and Dominick Drexler come into the midfield, while Simon Terodde is preferred to Sebastien Frey as the lone striker. As for Hertha, right winger Marco Richter returns at the expense of Jonjoe Kenny and Stevan Jovetic gets the nod over Wilfried Kanga in attack.

Schalke starting line-up

Fährmann (c) - Brunner, Kaminski, Jenz, Matriciani - Kral, Latza - Skarke, Drexler, Bülter - Terodde

Schalke subs

Schwolow, Ouwejan, Greiml, Uronen, Krauß, Zalazar, Tauer, Karaman, Frey

Hertha starting line-up

Christensen - Uremovic, Kempf, Dardai - Richter, Tousart, Cigerci, Boateng, Plattenhardt (c) - Lukebakio, Jovetic

Hertha subs

Ernst, Rogel, Kenny, Mittelstädt, Serdar, Sunjic, Niederlechner, Kanga, Ngankam
2:03
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Previous meeting

Hertha edged the last Bundesliga encounter between the sides on Matchday 11, a Lucas Tousart strike and a late Wilfried Kanga goal sealing all three points for the Berliners at the Olympiastadion.
camera-photo

"An enormous chance"

Hertha boss Sandro Schwarz has been speaking ahead of his side's journey west to Gelsenkirchen, where a possibly pivotal game awaits the capital club. "We know the situation in the table and where we’re starting from, but we have to focus on the way we play with seven games still ahead of us," the coach said. "[Friday's] is a very important game and an enormous chance."

"Plenty to play for"

Schalke's Alex Kral, who put through his own net in the defeat against Hoffenheim, called for the Royal Blues to react under the Friday night lights: “We are desperate to give [our fans] something back," the 24-year-old said. "It’s an extremely important game for us because Hertha are also fighting for survival. We need to show a reaction. We’ve still got seven games to go and there are plenty of points to play for."
2:03
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Hertha huff and puff

Hertha also went down on Matchday 27, the Old Lady's 1-0 reverse against Leipzig bringing their winless sequence to five games. The pressure is now well and truly on the visitors to the Veltins Arena as a result.
2:03
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Last time out

The Royal Blues will want to fare far better than last weekend, when they went down to Hoffenheim in what was another big battle to beat the drop. That marked a second successive loss for Thomas Reis's men, who had previously gone eight games without defeat.

Colossal encounter

Relegation six-pointers do not get any more intriguing than this. Bottom-placed Schalke welcome equally-troubled Hertha (just one point ahead in the standings) and the stakes couldn't be any higher as we near the end of the current campaign.
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Welcome along!

Here you can find all the information about FC Schalke 04 against Hertha Berlin on Matchday 28.