Schalke and Wolfsburg battle out goalless draw
Schalke stay bottom after having two goals disallowed in a goalless draw with Wolfsburg, who missed a first-half penalty.
Schalke made a start brimming with purpose as they eyed the chance of taking a first Bundesliga win since early November. Soichoro Kozuki hit the game’s first effort, but Koen Casteels saved to deny the Japanese winger. The hosts’ mood was temporarily dashed as Moritz Jenz brought Patrick Wimmer down on the edge of the box and the referee awarded a penalty after a VAR check - until Maximilian Arnold stepped up and smashed the spot kick against the upright, that was. Schalke could press again, and Kozuki had a go from distance after 15 minutes, but Casteels grabbed it. The hosts had the better of the play during the half, but struggled to create clear-cut openings with Wolfsburg sitting deep. A speculative effort from Michael Frey from outside the box missed the target, and it remained goalless at the break.
Wolfsburg showed an immediate increase in their attacking intent after the restart, with Jonas Wind threatening but smashing off target. Alex Kral then headed over from a promising position as the hosts asked more questions. The Czech midfielder soon made amends for that miss by striking the ball in at the far post from a Rodrigo Zalazar free-kick – only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR check for offside. Ralf Fährmann denied Jakub Kaminski with a good save at the other end as the game opened up. Jenz headed over from a corner then was denied by a point-blank reflex save from Casteels. Half chances came at either end, and Frey smashed the ball into the net only for another offside flag to thwart Schalke. Despite the hosts' best efforts to break the deadlock, there was no decisive way through the Wolves' defence.
Match stats
- Maya Yoshida had more touches (36) and won a higher share of challenges (82 percent) than any other outfield player on the pitch in the first half.
- Kozuki remains the only Schalke player to have scored for the club in 2023.
- Schalke have played out three successive goalless draws for the first time in their Bundesliga history.
- Ridle Baku completed more sprints than any other player in the match (41).
- Arnold has missed two penalties in the Bundesliga out of four in total – after also missing a spot-kick against Hoffenheim in October 2017.
- The Wolves are now unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga games against Schalke (W3, D3) and haven't conceded in their last four.
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Teams
Schalke: Fährmann - Brunner (Aydin 63'), Yoshida (c), Jenz, Uronen - Kral, Krauß - Kozuki (Drexler 73'), Zalazar, Skarke (Bülter 46') - Frey (Terodde 87')
Unused subs: Schwolow, Balanta, Karaman, Matriciani, Ouwejan
Out: Heekeren (cruciate ligament), Kaminski (ill), Latza (knee), Polter (knee), van den Berg (ankle)
Coach: Thomas Reis
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Baku, Bornauw (Lacroix 53'), Van de Ven, Otavio - Arnold (c) (Guilavogui 87'), Gerhardt (F. Nmecha 53') - Wimmer (Paredes 53'), Svanberg, Kaminski - Wind
Unused subs: Pervan, Cozza, Waldschmidt, L. Nmecha, Marmoush
Out: -
Coach: Niko Kovac
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