Super-sub heroics see Schalke and Paderborn share the spoils
Ahmed Kutucu and Klaus Gjasula both came off the bench to score as Paderborn came from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw against Schalke.
Schalke 1-1 Paderborn
Goals: 1-0 Kutucu (63'), 1-2 Gjasula (81')
With Schalke still feeling the effects of their extra-time win over Hertha Berlin in the DFB Cup, Paderborn fashioned a first-half foothold. Proficient in pouncing on chances to apply pressure, the lack of quality in front of goal cost the away side a breakthrough. Strelli Mamba and Gjasula, who had come on early for Abdelhamid Sabiri, squandered chances before the former had a goal correctly disallowed shortly before half-time.
While Schalke injected more pace after the restart, little changed until Kutucu came off the bench. The 19-year-old’s first involvement sparked a Schalke move that resulted in Benito Raman rattling the bar, his second broke the deadlock as he slotted home from Bastian Oczipka’s cut-back. The game opened up as a result, but it took a set-piece for Paderborn to level as Gjasula’s header proved too powerful for former Paderborn goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and enough to snatch a share of the spoils.
Match stats
- Schalke have only lost once on home soil this season, against Bayern Munich, on Matchday 2.
- The Munich club are the only side to have hit the woodwork more often than the Royal Blues (10).
- Kutucu has set a new personal single-season best with three goals in 2019/20 – two have come against Paderborn.
- All three of Kutucu’s goals have come off the bench - only Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland (five) has scored more as a super-sub.
- The draw was the first time this season Paderborn have picked up points from a losing position on foreign soil.
- Kai Pröger had a hand in eight shots on goal - the most of any player on the pitch.
Line-ups
Schalke: Nübel - Becker (Boujellab 82'), Kabak (Todibo 36'), Nastasic, Oczipka - Schöpf, Mascarell (c), McKennie - Harit - Gregoritsch (Kutucu 56'), Raman
Unused subs: Langer, Miranda, Matondo, Burgstaller, Mercan
Out: Caligiuri (knee), Kenny (ankle), Sane (knee), Schubert (knee), Stambouli (fractured metatarsal)
Coach: David Wagner
Paderborn: Zingerle - Jans, Strohdiek, Schonlau (c), Collins - Pröger (Jastrzembski 90'), Vasiliadis, Sabiri (Gjasula 11'), Antwi-Adjei - Mamba, Zolinski (Srbeny 70')
Unused subs: Huth, Hünemeier, Fridjonsson, Michel, Dräger, Evans
Out: Holtmann (suspended), Killian (hamstring)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Related news
Felix Nmecha: "We'll keep fighting"
The Germany international spoke to bundesliga.com about his evolving role, Nuri Şahin and Dortmund's aims for the rest of the season...
Matchday 15 probable teams
Victor Boniface is in contention to feature for Bayer Leverkusen on the final matchday of 2024 after recovering from injury...
Leverkusen's shining light
Florian Wirtz's spectacular form has helped put Bayer Leverkusen right back into the title race.