Schalke thwart Köln away from home to a draw
| (Photo by Neil Baynes/Getty Images) |
The game started off slow for both teams but Schalke applied more pressure with a header from centre back Nikola Katić but it was not enough for a goal.
Köln countered with a half chance of their own from Ísak Jóhannesson as the home side attempted to make the most of their control over the possession.
Trying a new variation, Köln played a long ball over the top and youngster Said El Mala had another chance for the hosts but he was unable to properly test Loris Karius as he put the shot over the bar.
During the 43rd minute, Schalke had a large head collision between Robin Gosens and Soufiane El-Faouzi which led to both players being pulled from the game and subbed off.
In added time within the first half, Tom Krauss pulled Hwang Hee Chan down to prevent a counter and received a yellow card.
The biggest chance of the first half fell to Said El Mala following a counter run for Köln led on by winger Linton Maina who passed it to the youngster who shot it over the bar.
Schalke started the second half strongly and had a chance through Junior Adamu but his shot was stopped by Marvin Schwäbe.
In the 51st minute, Said El Mala had another chance for Köln but it wasn't to be as his effort went past the post.
Ten minutes later, Mikey Moore was without the vital final pass as his ball to Said El Mala was cut out by Schalke.
During the 65th minute, Loris Karius made a good save to stop Köln's Marius Bülter.
Köln made a subsitute shortly after to bring on Luca Waldschmidt for Mikey Moore.
In the 74th minute, Köln had their best chance with a long ball over to Marius Bülter who tried an effort one-on-one with Lorius Karius who saved into the feet of Köln's Luca Waldschmidt who was unable to finish.
The 80th minute brought about a double substitution for Köln who brought in Reigan Heskey and Paul Okon-Engstler for Said El Mala and Tom Krauss.
Köln looked for one last throw of the dice and brought on Jan Thielmann and Joel Schmied for Linton Maina and Luka Lochosvili.
Unfortunately, this wasn't enough for the hosts as the game ended 0-0 in disappointing fashion but nonetheless provided the hosts with their first clean sheet of the season.
