Preview - FC Schalke 04 vs Hertha Berlin 03 September 18

[Harry85]

Match Day 2
FC Schalke 04 vs Hertha Berlin
Monday, September 3rd, 2018
01:00am (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: Arena AufSchalke

FC Schalke 04:   
Last five matches form: D D W W L
Average goals per match 17/18: 1.56
Average goals against per match 17/18: 1.09
Top Scorer 17/18: Guido Burgstaller (11)
 
Hertha Berlin:
Last five matches form: W D L L W
Average goals per match 17/18: 1.26
Average goals against per match 17/18: 1.35
Top Scorer 17/18: Salomon Kalou (12)


Following their excellent second place finish in the Bundesliga last season, hopes were high for Schalke headed into the current season - and indeed they still are - but a loss away to Wolfsburg on the opening day was nevertheless a little disappointing. They will be aiming to bounce back in front of their own fans here as they take on Hertha Berlin.

Hertha began their season in solid enough style when seeing of new boys Nürnberg at home. However this seems likely to be significantly tougher.

Schalke did the double over Hertha last season without conceding a goal. They only won this game narrowly though, coming out on top 1-0.

Considering how early in the season we are, both sides have a worrying amount of injury concerns here. Omar Mascarell, Bastian Oczipka, Benjamin Stambouli and Sasch Riether are injured for Schalke for whom Matija Nastasic also misses out through suspension.

Hertha's treatment room is also packed to the rafters. Marius Gersbeck, Vladimir Darida, Jonathan Klinsmann, Peter Pekarik, Mathew Leckie and Marvin Plattenhardt all being missing ahead of this clash.

This ought to be a home win. Schalke do look a little stretched, particularly at the back, but usually find a way to get the job done in this fixture - they've won the last ten - and conceded just once in the last six.





Prediction: FC Schalke 04 2 - 1 Hertha Berlin

[Harry85]

Half time: 0 - 1
Full time: 0 - 2
Shots:  12 - 5
Shots on target: 5 - 3
Corner Kicks: 9 - 0
Possession: 57% - 43%

Schalke's Mark Uth and Hertha's Rune Jarsetein were booked in this one, with referee Sascha Stegemann also issuing the straight red card to the home teams Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Hertha Berlin were behind in every stat here - except the one which counts. They didn't have as much of the ball or as many shots as the home side, but, unlike Schalke, they did make the most of the opportunities they had to make it two wins from as many games.

It could all have been so different for Schalke too. Having started marginally the brighter of the two sides, they were awarded a penalty kick in the twelfth minute. Woeful effort from Daniel Caligiuri though who couldn't even find the target.

They were made to pay for that miss almost immediately. Ondrej Duda receiving the ball on the edge of the area and firing at goal. Keeper Ralf Fahrmann dived the right way but a deflection of his defenders' heel on the way through left him with no chance. 0-1.

Schalke did push for an equaliser in the second half but found Hertha keeper Rune Jarstein in inspired form at times.

It was still 0-1 headed into the 95th minute but we still had time for a sending off and another Hertha Goal.
Yevhen Konoplyanka seeing red for a silly foul, before Ondrej Duda curled a beautiful free kick into the top left corner to make sure that the three points would be heading back to Berlin.

Schalke's disappointing start to the season continues. The one conceivable plus being that if they are able to replicate these possession and shot statistics across their future games, they will surely win more matches than they lose.