After an energetic performance, the big promotion party has begun: 382 days after relegation, Schalke 04 are back in the Bundesliga. The second division leaders defeated FC St. Pauli 3: 2 (0: 2) after losing 0: 2 and can no longer be sent off from one of the top two spots on the final day of play.
At 22:26 all the dikes broke at Schalke: fans stormed the pitch after returning to the Bundesliga, scorer Simon Terodde howled like a fox and coach Mike Büskens hugged his players. “The S04 is back”, sang the delighted fans at the top of their lungs. It was the start of a long night of partying in Gelsenkirchen.
“The feeling is incredible. It was our dream. We had to fight for it, you don’t get it for free,” said Büskens. Sky: “A huge compliment to the squad. It’s unbelievable. I told the guys during the break: it was the best first half we’ve ever played. We’ll talk about it again tonight in a decade or two with this dramaturgy.”
“It has been an incredible journey,” said Büskens, who was promoted from assistant to head coach in early March, following his seventh three in eight games under his direction, “we have developed a sensational spirit.” When he replaced the suspended Dimitrios Grammozis, Schalke were within six points of relegation. “I think very few people thought we could still do it,” he said, “it was intense, the journey was difficult.”
Schalke 04 is promoted: “Everyone deserves it”
S04 sporting director Rouven Schröder agrees Sport1: “He seems to be shocked. It’s incredible what happened today. Big congratulations to everyone in the club who believed in us and supported the team. Everyone deserves to feel this feeling. We are all delighted. 0: 2 to 3: 2 – that’s exactly what we need. All the boys believed it. Schalke 04 is alive again. “
Head of Licensing Gerald Asamoah was also over the moon: “What the guys did to us is just sick. We’re down 2-0, but this team is just fantastic. The fans pushed us forward, the atmosphere was fantastic. “
To return to the German House of Lords after 382 days, an energy performance was required. The second division leaders defeated FC St. Pauli 3: 2 (0: 2) after losing 0: 2 and can no longer be sent off from one of the top two spots on the final day of play.
Scorer Terodde with his seasonal goals 28 and 29 (47th, penalty / 71st) and joker Rodrigo Zalazar (78th) brought the Royal Blues back to the Bundesliga for the fourth time after 1982, 1984 and 1991 in front of 62,271 spectators in the sold out Veltins Arena – for the third time after just one second division season. On April 20, 2021, the Royal Blues signed their fourth relegation with a 0-1 at Arminia Bielefeld.
Matanovic double pack shock Schalke 04
Igor Matanovic (9th and 17th) puts Hamburg ahead with a brace. After the sixth consecutive game without a win, the chances of promotion for St. Pauli, still at the top a month ago, are only theoretical. Marcel Beifus also saw the red card for a serious foul (81 ‘), Matanovic was sent off for a yellow card (90’ + 5 ‘).
Even before kick-off, the Royal Blues were celebrating: their Eurofighter, who 25 years ago sensationally won the UEFA Cup and made perfect the biggest success in the club’s history. The team around the coach of the century Huub Stevens met on the lawn for the anniversary, fans sang the legendary journey through Europe.
Büskens, himself part of the 1997 squad, has been busy with current Schalke. The 54-year-old moved up two places from a thrilling 2-1 win at Sandhausen and brought Thomas Ouwejan and Dominick Drexler back to the starting XI. His opponent Timo Schultz had to replace half a dozen players after the Corona outbreak last Sunday.
Schalke Fraisl goalkeeper fails before conceding a second goal
The two coaches almost saw the first goal after 32 seconds, but Terodde was unable to save Dennis Smarsch. The St. Pauli goalkeeper also saved against Marius Bülter (5th). On the other hand, the first shot hits: Matanovic completes Hamburg’s first attack in the lead, largely undisturbed.
Schalke goalkeeper Martin Fraisl gave the guests the 2-0: the goalkeeper, who had recently been noticed several times for abandonment, made a bad catastrophic pass in the preparation of the game, which Matanovic used. Schalke responds and celebrates – too soon: Ko Itakura’s alleged draw is preceded by a hand ball by the Japanese (23 ‘). Then Terodde shot defender Jakov Medic from two meters (33 ‘) to the goal line.
A few seconds after the restart, Medic Terodde breaks the record for second division goalscorers in the penalty area. After that, Schalke, pushed by the fans, stormed the courage of despair. Terodde used a model from Darko Churlinov for his 171st second division goal. Zalazar has finally turned the arena into a madhouse.
FC Schalke 04 – FC St. Pauli: The facts of the game
Schalke: Fraisl – Vindheim (55. Aydin), Itakura, Kaminski, Ouwejan – Flick, Latza (79. Palsson) – Drexler (67. Zalazar), Churlinov (79. Idrizi) – Terodde, Bülter. – Coach: Büskens
St. Paul: Smarsch – Zander, Beifus, Medic, Paqarada (80. Makienok) – Aremu (58. Ritzka) – Irvine, Benatelli (79. Daschner) – Hartel – Matanovic, Kyereh. – Coach: Schultz
Injustice: 0: 1 Matanovic (9.), 0: 2 Matanovic (17.), 1: 2 Terodde (47. Foulelfmeter), 2: 2 Terodde (71.), 3: 2 Zalazar (78.)
Red card: Beifus for severe foul play (81.)
yellow-red card: Matanovic (St. Pauli) for repeated foul (90 + 5)
yellow cards: Latza (5), Vindheim (3), Idrizi (3) – Aremu (5), Medic (4), Kyereh (5)
