After an energetic performance, the big promotion party began: 382 days after relegation, Schalke 04 returned to the Bundesliga. The leaders of the second division beat FC St. Pauli 3:2 (0:2) after leading 0:2 and can no longer be ousted from one of the top two places on the last day of the game.
At 10:26 p.m., all the barrages broke out at Schalke: fans stormed the pitch after their return to the Bundesliga, striker Simon Terodde howled like a fox and coach Mike Büskens hugged his players. “The S04 is back,” chanted the delighted supporters loudly. It was the start of a long night of celebration in Gelsenkirchen.
“The feeling is amazing. It was our dream. We had to fight for it, you don’t get it for free,” Büskens said. sky: “A huge compliment to the team. It’s amazing. I said to the boys during the break: it was the best first half we’ve played. We’ll be talking about this night in a decade or two with this dramaturgy.”
“It’s been an incredible journey,” stressed Büskens, who was promoted from assistant to head coach in early March after the seventh three in eight games under his management, “we’ve developed a sensational spirit.” When he took over from suspended Dimitrios Grammozis, Schalke were six points behind the relegation spot. “I think very few people thought we could still do it,” he said, “it was intense, the journey was tough.”
Schalke 04 are promoted: “Everyone deserves it”
S04 sporting director Rouven Schröder agreed sport1: “I feel like I’m shocked. It’s amazing what happened today. A big compliment to everyone at the club who believed in it and supported the team. Everyone deserve to have that feeling. We’re all delighted. 0:2 to 3:2 – that’s exactly what we need. The boys all believed it. Schalke 04 are alive again.”
Licensing manager Gerald Asamoah was also thrilled: “What the guys did to us is just crazy. We’re down 2-0 but this team is just brilliant. The fans pushed us forward, the atmosphere was so amazing.”
To return to the German House of Lords after 382 days, energy performance was required. The leaders of the second division beat FC St. Pauli 3:2 (0:2) after leading 0:2 and can no longer be ousted from one of the top two places on the last day of the game.
Striker Terodde with his season goals 28 and 29 (47th, penalty/71st) and joker Rodrigo Zalazar (78th) returned the Royal Blues to the Bundesliga for the fourth time after 1982, 1984 and 1991 in front of 62,271 spectators in the Veltins Arena sold out – for the third time after just one season in the Second Division. On April 20, 2021, the royal blues sealed their fourth relegation with a 0-1 draw at Arminia Bielefeld.
Matanovic brace shocks Schalke 04
Igor Matanovic (9th and 17th) put Hamburg in the lead with a double. After a sixth straight game without a win, St. Pauli’s chances of promotion, a leader a month ago, are only theoretical. Marcel Beifus also receives a red card for serious misconduct (81′), Matanovic is sent off on a yellow card (90’+5′).
Even before kick-off, the Royal Blues were celebrating: their Eurofighters, who won the UEFA Cup in sensational fashion 25 years ago and perfected the greatest success in the club’s history. The team around the manager of the century Huub Stevens gathered on the lawn for the birthday, the fans sang of the legendary journey through Europe.
Büskens, himself a member of the 1997 squad, has been busy with current Schalke. The 54-year-old fell two positions from the emotional 2-1 win at Sandhausen and brought Thomas Ouwejan and Dominick Drexler back into the starting XI. His opponent Timo Schultz had to replace half a dozen players after the Corona outbreak last Sunday.
Schalke goalkeeper Fraisl fails before conceding a second goal
Both coaches came close to scoring the opening goal after 32 seconds, but Terodde failed to save Dennis Smarsch. The St. Pauli goalkeeper also saved against Marius Bülter (5th). On the other hand, the first shot was a success: Matanovic completed Hamburg’s first attack, largely undisturbed, with a header.
Schalke goalkeeper Martin Fraisl gave the 2-0 to the guests: the goalkeeper, who had recently been noticed several times with abandonments, made a catastrophic bad pass in the build-up to the game, which Matanovic used. Schalke replies and celebrates – too early: Ko Itakura’s supposed equalizer is preceded by a hand from the Japanese (23rd). Then Terodde shot defender Jakov Medic on the goal line from two meters (33rd).
Just seconds after the restart, Medic Terodde tore into the penalty area, the Second Division’s record top scorer scored from the penalty spot. After that, Schalke, pushed by the fans, stormed with the courage of desperation. Terodde used a pattern from Darko Churlinov for his 171st Second Division goal. Zalazar eventually turned the arena into a madhouse.
FC Schalke 04 – FC St. Pauli: Match details
Schalke: Fraisl – Vindheim (55th Aydin), Itakura, Kaminski, Ouwejan – Flick, Latza (79th Palsson) – Drexler (67th Zalazar), Churlinov (79th Idrizi) – Terodde, Bülter. – Trainer: Buskens
St. Pauli: Smarsch – Zander, Beifus, Medic, Paqarada (80th Makienok) – Aremu (58th Ritzka) – Irvine, Benatelli (79th Daschner) – Hartel – Matanovic, Kyereh. – Trainer: Schulz
Doors: 0: 1 Matanovic (9th), 0: 2 Matanovic (17th), 1: 2 Terodde (47th penalty), 2: 2 Terodde (71st), 3: 2 Zalazar (78th)
Red card: Beifus for gross negligence (81.)
Yellow-red card: Matanovic (St. Pauli) for repeated foul play (90+5)
Yellow cards: Latza (5), Vindheim (3), Idrizi (3) – Aremu (5), Medic (4), Kyereh (5)