Nuremberg dominated much of their relegation six-pointer against Schalke, but were held to a 1-1 draw with Yuya Kubo and Matija Nastasic exchanging goals.

Nuremberg 1-1 Schalke

Goals: 1-0 Kubo (82'), 1-1 Nastasic (85')

The first half was a tense affair, with the teams initially battling each other in a crowded midfield. Nuremberg soon began to dominate though, with Schalke's Omar Mascarell forcing his own goalkeeper, Alexander Nübel, into a brilliant save following a corner, before Eduard Löwen fired a free-kick just over the bar. The game sparked into life shortly before the interval when Hanno Behrens intercepted an under-hit back pass to score, only for it to be ruled out for a foul on Nübel. The Schalke custodian was at the centre of the action moments later too, conceding a penalty after bringing down Matheus Pereira before tipping Behren's spot-kick around the post to ensure the teams went into the break on level terms.

Schalke brought on Breel Embolo at the start of the second half and immediately began to get forward with greater purpose, even if they struggled to seriously threaten Christian Mathenia's goal. The hosts weathered that storm, though, and soon began to dominate once again. Sebastian Kerk had the next glorious chance to break the deadlock on a three-versus-three counter lead by the effervescent Pereira, but Nübel made another outstanding save to keep his side in the game. Embolo had an effort chalked off for offside in the closing stages before substitute Kubo looked to have given Nuremberg a deserved victory with a header in the 82nd minute. However, Schalke scrambled an equaliser moments later when Nastasic prodded in following a corner to leave the home team left wondering what might have been.

Yuya Kubo (l.) headed in his first Bundesliga goal against Schalke, but it was not enough for all three points. - imago images / Zink

Match stats

• Nübel faced a penalty for the fourth time in the Bundesliga, saving a spot-kick for the first tie.
• Nuremberg have missed three of the five penalties they have been awarded this term - more than any other side. Behrens has missed two of them.
• Schalke have conceded six spot-kicks this season. Only Hannover (seven) have had more awarded against them.
• Nuremberg have taken five points from their last three matches. They last went three games unbeaten between Matchdays 2 and 4.
• Both Kubo and Nastasic scored their first ever Bundesliga goals.
• A third of all of Nuremberg's goals have been scored by supersubs (eight of 24).

Line-ups

Nuremberg: Mathenia – Bauer, Mühl, Ewerton, Leibold (Kubo 50') – Löwen, Erras – Pereira, Behrens (c), Kerk – Ishak
Unused subs: Bredlow, Palacios, Petrak, Margreitter, Fuchs, Tillman
Out: Knoll (ankle), Lippert (knee), Misidjan (suspended), Valentini (thigh), Zrelak (cruciate ligament)
Coach: Boris Schommers

Schalke: Nübel – Stambouli (c), Sane, Nastasic – Mascarell – Caligiuri, Harit (Bentaleb 67'), Boujellab (Rudy 81'), Oczipka – Burgstaller, Skrzybski (Embolo 46')
Unused subs: Fährmann, Kutucu, Bruma, Carls
Out: McKennie (ankle), Schöpf (knee), Serdar (suspended), Uth (groin)
Coach: Huub Stevens

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FC Schalke 04

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1. FC Nürnberg

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