Bayer Leverkusen

[Oliver_Kahn]

We need to pray for Kiessling to score.

[Oliver_Kahn]

We need to pray for Kiessling to score.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke counting on fans against Leverkusen

In view of the current injury situation the support of the crowd has taken on crucial importance ahead of Sunday's clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Things have been better going into a Bundesliga game. Not only are Gerald Asamoah, Ralf Fährmann, Soren Larsen, Peter Lovenkrands, Christian Pander and Gustavo Varela all missing through injury, but Levan Kobiashvili is suspended after picking up five yellow cards and Halil Altintop, Mladen Krstajic and Lincoln are also in doubt.

So now, more than ever, the Royal Blues are counting on the support of the fans. Mirko Slomka is hoping for a similar reciprocal effect to the one that was achieved in the home win over Hertha BSC Berlin. "The euphoria in the stands had a lot to do with our performance on the pitch. By showing aggression in the tackle and with our fantastic fans behind us we want to put Leverkusen under pressure and then step up this pressure with incredible determination", the Schalke boss said.

Slomka, incidentally, was the first Schalke coach to beat Bayer Leverkusen at the VELTINS Arena, the Royal Blues winning 7-4 almost a year ago to the day. The previous matches between the two have also been high-scoring affairs (3-3, 0-1, 2-3 and 3-3). "Of course I watched Leverkusen's game in Blackburn", said Slomka, delighted that his support for Schalke's Bundesliga rivals in Europe had helped. "Leverkusen's defence was very stable. Much of that was down to the return of Juan, who got top marks from me for his performance."

Schalke are the best home team so far this season, a record they are keen to defend. "Kevin Kuranyi is in great form. He's sure to get support from his attacking team-mates because our aim has to be to put Leverkusen under pressure by footballing means." It merely remains to be seen whether the 4-3-3 system that has been so successful in recent weeks will work again on Sunday. "The players we currently have available are more than capable. And we'll have to wait and see how the final training session goes", said Slomka. One decision has been made, though: "Hamit Altintop will start", the Schalke boss explained, though he didn't say in which position.

Despite all the injury worries Slomka is still very satisfied: "We're the only team who can win the league without worrying about what our rivals do."

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke counting on fans against Leverkusen

In view of the current injury situation the support of the crowd has taken on crucial importance ahead of Sunday's clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Things have been better going into a Bundesliga game. Not only are Gerald Asamoah, Ralf Fährmann, Soren Larsen, Peter Lovenkrands, Christian Pander and Gustavo Varela all missing through injury, but Levan Kobiashvili is suspended after picking up five yellow cards and Halil Altintop, Mladen Krstajic and Lincoln are also in doubt.

So now, more than ever, the Royal Blues are counting on the support of the fans. Mirko Slomka is hoping for a similar reciprocal effect to the one that was achieved in the home win over Hertha BSC Berlin. "The euphoria in the stands had a lot to do with our performance on the pitch. By showing aggression in the tackle and with our fantastic fans behind us we want to put Leverkusen under pressure and then step up this pressure with incredible determination", the Schalke boss said.

Slomka, incidentally, was the first Schalke coach to beat Bayer Leverkusen at the VELTINS Arena, the Royal Blues winning 7-4 almost a year ago to the day. The previous matches between the two have also been high-scoring affairs (3-3, 0-1, 2-3 and 3-3). "Of course I watched Leverkusen's game in Blackburn", said Slomka, delighted that his support for Schalke's Bundesliga rivals in Europe had helped. "Leverkusen's defence was very stable. Much of that was down to the return of Juan, who got top marks from me for his performance."

Schalke are the best home team so far this season, a record they are keen to defend. "Kevin Kuranyi is in great form. He's sure to get support from his attacking team-mates because our aim has to be to put Leverkusen under pressure by footballing means." It merely remains to be seen whether the 4-3-3 system that has been so successful in recent weeks will work again on Sunday. "The players we currently have available are more than capable. And we'll have to wait and see how the final training session goes", said Slomka. One decision has been made, though: "Hamit Altintop will start", the Schalke boss explained, though he didn't say in which position.

Despite all the injury worries Slomka is still very satisfied: "We're the only team who can win the league without worrying about what our rivals do."

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke 0 - 1 Bayer Leverkusen (Kiessling 85')

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke 0 - 1 Bayer Leverkusen (Kiessling 85')

[Oliver_Kahn]

Shocking result.

As a Bayern fan, I'm extremely happy

[Oliver_Kahn]

Shocking result.

As a Bayern fan, I'm extremely happy

[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke 0 - 1 Bayer Leverkusen (Kiessling 85')

Fantastic win for Leverkusen!

[Oliver_Kahn]

They could not have tried any harder. From the very first minute the Royal Blues gave their all in a bid to extend their lead at the top of the table by beating Bayer Leverkusen, creating a string of great chances in the second half. But after a counterthrust that Stefan Kiessling completed for the only of the game Schalke were left empty-handed.

Mirko Slomka made just one change to the side that drew in Wolfsburg last weekend, Hamit Altintop coming in for the injured Peter Lovenkrands. The extent of the selection crisis at Schalke was made all too apparent by a look at the bench, where the seven substitutes mustered just 25 Bundesliga appearances between them, with three of them yet to make their debuts in Germany's top flight.

In the first half there were no signs of the drama that was to follow. Driven on by the fanatical home support, the Schalke players put in a huge effort. Nevertheless the visitors withstood the pressure, even if they had to resort to some very agricultural means on occasions, as the three cautions they collected before the interval showed. "It was a very arduous game in the first period. Both sides closed down the space and offered very few chances", said Slomka, while Leverkusen boss Michael Skibbe had words of praise for this team: "We ran and fought tremendously well in view of our UEFA Cup outing and defended superbly before the break."

After the restart this analysis applied in particular to Leverkusen goalkeeper René Adler. The 22-year-old kept out four great chances for Kevin Kuranyi, Halil Altintop, Lincoln and Zlatan Bajramovic to prevent Schalke from taking a lead they thoroughly deserved. "In the second half we stepped up the pressure considerably. We attacked them earlier and played with a lot of passion", as Slomka correctly pointed out. And he refused to attach any blame to his attacking players, saying. "We kept hitting the target and showed great heart. The players did everything but score."

Yet with the all-important goal failing to materialise the Royal Blues began to take more and more risks as the game wore on. "We weren't satisfied with a 0-0 draw, we wanted to win", acknowledged Slomka, as everyone in the sell-out crowd could see. Skipper Marcelo Bordon and his men showed incredible commitment as they tried to extend their lead at the top and move a big step closer to their goal of winning the championship.

"When you're chasing a target like that you dispense with the holding midfielder and open up, which makes you more susceptible to counterattacks", said Slomka, explaining the situation that led to Schalke's nightmare 85th minute. Leverkusen, who for all their fighting spirit had failed to create a genuine chance all evening, grabbed the only goal of the game thanks to fine solo effort by substitute Stefan Kiessling, the lucky punch with which the Rhinelanders floored the league leaders, who had dominated the contest until then. "We deserved more", concluded Slomka appropriately. But after the injury to Mladen Krstajic (broken rib) and the red card for Lincoln after the final whistle, it was Schalke's personnel worries that grew bigger rather than the gap to the chasing pack.

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic (Hoogland 68'), Rodriguez - Ernst, Bajramovic - Lincoln - Halil Altintop (Erwig 87'), Kuranyi, Hamit Altintop (Özil 72')
Leverkusen: Adler - Castro, Juan, Haggui, Babic - Ramelow, Rolfes - Freier (Kiessling 72'), Schneider, Barnetta (Schwegler 90') - Barbarez
Goal: 0-1 Kiessling (85')
Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)
Referee: Gräfe (Berlin)
Red card: Lincoln (violent conduct after the final whistle)
Yellow cards: Rafinha (5/1), Bordon (5/1) - Barbarez (5), Schneider (3), Barnetta (3), Ramelow (3)

[Oliver_Kahn]

They could not have tried any harder. From the very first minute the Royal Blues gave their all in a bid to extend their lead at the top of the table by beating Bayer Leverkusen, creating a string of great chances in the second half. But after a counterthrust that Stefan Kiessling completed for the only of the game Schalke were left empty-handed.

Mirko Slomka made just one change to the side that drew in Wolfsburg last weekend, Hamit Altintop coming in for the injured Peter Lovenkrands. The extent of the selection crisis at Schalke was made all too apparent by a look at the bench, where the seven substitutes mustered just 25 Bundesliga appearances between them, with three of them yet to make their debuts in Germany's top flight.

In the first half there were no signs of the drama that was to follow. Driven on by the fanatical home support, the Schalke players put in a huge effort. Nevertheless the visitors withstood the pressure, even if they had to resort to some very agricultural means on occasions, as the three cautions they collected before the interval showed. "It was a very arduous game in the first period. Both sides closed down the space and offered very few chances", said Slomka, while Leverkusen boss Michael Skibbe had words of praise for this team: "We ran and fought tremendously well in view of our UEFA Cup outing and defended superbly before the break."

After the restart this analysis applied in particular to Leverkusen goalkeeper René Adler. The 22-year-old kept out four great chances for Kevin Kuranyi, Halil Altintop, Lincoln and Zlatan Bajramovic to prevent Schalke from taking a lead they thoroughly deserved. "In the second half we stepped up the pressure considerably. We attacked them earlier and played with a lot of passion", as Slomka correctly pointed out. And he refused to attach any blame to his attacking players, saying. "We kept hitting the target and showed great heart. The players did everything but score."

Yet with the all-important goal failing to materialise the Royal Blues began to take more and more risks as the game wore on. "We weren't satisfied with a 0-0 draw, we wanted to win", acknowledged Slomka, as everyone in the sell-out crowd could see. Skipper Marcelo Bordon and his men showed incredible commitment as they tried to extend their lead at the top and move a big step closer to their goal of winning the championship.

"When you're chasing a target like that you dispense with the holding midfielder and open up, which makes you more susceptible to counterattacks", said Slomka, explaining the situation that led to Schalke's nightmare 85th minute. Leverkusen, who for all their fighting spirit had failed to create a genuine chance all evening, grabbed the only goal of the game thanks to fine solo effort by substitute Stefan Kiessling, the lucky punch with which the Rhinelanders floored the league leaders, who had dominated the contest until then. "We deserved more", concluded Slomka appropriately. But after the injury to Mladen Krstajic (broken rib) and the red card for Lincoln after the final whistle, it was Schalke's personnel worries that grew bigger rather than the gap to the chasing pack.

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic (Hoogland 68'), Rodriguez - Ernst, Bajramovic - Lincoln - Halil Altintop (Erwig 87'), Kuranyi, Hamit Altintop (Özil 72')
Leverkusen: Adler - Castro, Juan, Haggui, Babic - Ramelow, Rolfes - Freier (Kiessling 72'), Schneider, Barnetta (Schwegler 90') - Barbarez
Goal: 0-1 Kiessling (85')
Attendance: 61,482 (sold out)
Referee: Gräfe (Berlin)
Red card: Lincoln (violent conduct after the final whistle)
Yellow cards: Rafinha (5/1), Bordon (5/1) - Barbarez (5), Schneider (3), Barnetta (3), Ramelow (3)

[Trim]

Oh yessssssss! God bless you Kiessling.

[Trim]

Eh, the crisis is just beggining. Couldn't have been better.

[Trim]

Eh, the crisis is just beggining. Couldn't have been better.