FC Schalke 04

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VS

Bundesliga 2007/08, Matchday 7
MSV Duisburg vs FC Schalke 04

Stadium: MSV-Arena, Duisburg
Kick-off: Tuesday, Sep 25th 2007, 20.00h

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Schalke take home first away win
Schalke earned three points against MSV Duisburg and cemented their position amongst the leading clubs in the table.



Unbeaten runners-up Schalke 04 defeated promotion club MSV Duisburg 2-0 (1-0) and improved their point total to 13, putting them temporarily in second place behind Bayern München.

Striker duo on the mark

Halil Altintop (3rd min.) and Kevin Kuranyi (75.) both scored for Schalke. Altintop took a long ball from captain Marcelo Bordon and exploited a glaring miscommunication between MSV goalie
Tom Starke and defender Björn Schlicke to take the lead for the visitors.

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Matchday 8//

Schalke 1 - 0 Hertha BSC

44' [1 - 0] Rafinha (pen.)

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Schalke maintain their winning run and leapfrog Leverkusen into second place following a 1-0 victory over Hertha Berlin at the Veltins Arena. The performance may not have been impressive, but the three points are vital all the same.

Schalke 1 Hertha Berlin 0

Schalke’s third victory in succession was secured with a 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin. A first half penalty from Rafinha a minute before the break was enough to secure the three points.

The first half saw Schalke the predominant attacking force in the game, with Berlin happy to defend and try to hit back on the attack through Pantelic.

Mirko Slomka was forced forced into a premature switch in the 9th minute with Halil Altintop limping off following a tough challenge from von Bergen. Dane Peter Lövenkrands was his replacement.

There were few clear cut scoring chances during the opening period. Bajramovic had a shot after six minutes which caused Drobny few problems, while substitute Lövenkrands didn’t make the most of an opportunity after being well played in by Ernst.

Hertha’s only real chance in the first period came through a Pantelic freekick which Manuel Neuer had covered.

Just as Hertha’s defensive tactics looked like paying off and the first half drifted towards a 0-0, the home side won a deserved penalty.

Jermaine Jones was played in and the midfielder was clearly taken out by Steve von Bergen. Brazilian Rafinha stepped up to coolly slot home his second penalty of the season.

Having defended for most of the first period, Lucien Favre’s side was forced to take a more attacking stance in the second.

The opening twenty minutes were rather uneventful, but as the half proceeded, Schalke became more nervous at the back and Berlin came more into the game.

On the hour mark, Westermann had a good chance following a goalmouth scramble, and Kuranyi had a rare opportunity on 75 minutes.

However the home side showed limited attacking thrust and were forced to endure some nervous moments. Hertha's improved second half showing was not enough to get them back in the game and Schalke ended up winning their third win on the bounce, putting them one point behind Bayern- for 24 hours at least.

1-0 Rafinha,44 pen

Schalke 04: Neuer, Rafinha, Pander (Kobiashvili), Westermann, Bordon, Ernst, Jones, Bajramovic, Rakitic (Azaouagh), Kuranyi, Altintop (Lövenkrands)

Hertha Berlin: Drobny, Chahed, A.Friedrich, von Bergen, Fathi, Mineiro, Schmidt, Gilberto, Lucio (Ebert), Grahn (André Lima), Pantelic (Okoronkwo)

Goal.com - Bundesliga - Bundesliga Report: Schalke Labour To Berlin Win

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Schalke trainer Mirko Slomka was full of praise for his side following their 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin.

The victory secured their third win in succession and takes the Königsblauen to second in the table.

“Nine points is perfect. However you could notice tonight that our fitness levels were diminished” he explained.

“The players were a bit tired and not as secure on the ball. Despite that you have to give them respect for the performance” the 39 year old added.

Goal.com - Germany - Slomka Hails Perfect Nine Points

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Highlights - Schalke 04 vs. Hertha BSC

TalkSoccer Media Player

[BlackNess]

thanks for the Video Trim .

Astounding Work .

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Schalke players suffer injuries

Both Halil Altintop and Levan Kobiashvili suffered injuries in the 1-0 win over Hertha BSC.

Halil Altintop tore a thigh muscle with just a few minutes gone. "I hope to be able to help the team again in the match at Chelsea", the Turkish international commented.

Team-mate Levan Kobiashvili suffered an adductor injury. "It doesn't seem to be the same injury as last time", the Georgian said.

A nuclear spin in Duisburg shall give information on the injury.

***

[Vargas_4]

Schalke has to make up for lost ground. They must beat Rosenborg away. They don't have a choice. They must do it if they want to accomplish their Round 16 goal in this CL.

[Super Pibe #7]

Not the greatest performance by schalke.But they are on a good winning run now and this will really help them in the champions league.

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FC Schalke 04 need a win to keep their Champions League dreams alive when they travel to Norwegian champions Rosenborg on Wednesday (20:45).

A defeat would even see third place and UEFA Cup football slip from their grasps.

"We must bag three points to have a chance", sporting director Andreas Müller clarified ahead of Schalke's 95th European match.

Valencia as a role model

Schalke still search the right recipe for the Champions League after losing 1-0 to Valencia.

"We have to see Valencia as a role model. Make things tight and don't give the other team any breathing space. That's how you play in Europe", midfielder Zlatan Bajramovic demanded.

"We have to take our chances"

"We have to take our chances. You don't get them at minute intervals", Müller added.

Too many chances for a goal is Schalke's main problem in the Bundesliga, too - despite being unbeaten.

Pander ruled out

Coach Mirko Slomka will have to make do without German international Christian Pander (bruise, flu). 19-year-old Benedikt Höwedes will make his professional debut.

Schalke have been handed a warning by Rosenborg's 1-1 draw away to Chelsea. "It shows that everyone in the competition has a very, very high quality", Müller acknowledges.

Poor season for Rosenborg

Rosenborg, however, haven't won at home in the Champions League since 2001. All three home matches against German Clubs have ended in draws so far (Dortmund 2-2, Bayern 1-1 twice).

In the Norwegian Tippeligaen Rosenborg have slipped down to seventh after a 4-3 defeat in Fredrikstad - 16 points behind leaders Brann Bergen.

Line-ups as expected:

Rosenborg: Hirschfeld - Strand, Basma, Koppinen, Dorsin - Tettey, Riseth, Sapara - Iversen, Kone, Traore

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Westermann, Bordon, Höwedes - Ernst - Jones, Bajramovic - Rakitic - Asamoah (Lövenkrands), Kuranyi

Referee: Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland)

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Schalke are a strong team, and I think I can rightly say their home defeat to Valencia in MD1 was surprising.

Rosenborg managed to get a 1-1 draw in London against Chelsea in MD1.

I've watched the UEFA magazine yesterday. Some Rosenborg players spoke on the match.
They're too confident, and they think they can beat Schalke.

Schalke have to use this moment of their 'overconfidence'.

They shouldn't let surprises happen.

Anything less than a win in Rosenborg for Schalke has to be dissapointing.

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Rosenborg 0 - 1 Schalke, 75th min.

Schalke are leading from the 62nd minute, when Jermaine Jones scored.

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Rosenborg 0 - 2 Schalke, 90th min.

Kevin Kuranyi scored in the 89th minute to stamp Schalke's victory.

Last few seconds being played.

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Game over!

Rosenborg 0 - 2 Schalke

62' [0 - 1] J. Jones
89' [0 - 2] K. Kuranyi

Well done!