Finally a goal, but again no points and hardly any hope left: Schalke 04 are already rushing towards the second division unchecked – and not even finding their way into the relegation battle.
In the 1: 6 (0: 4) against RB Leipzig, the royal blues lacked any Bundesliga suitability and brought back bad memories: After the first half of the season, the bottom of the table is only slightly better off with just nine points and a clear deficit than in the chaos season before two years.
Andre Silva (7th and 44th) scored twice for Leipzig, who climbed to second place for at least one night after the 15th competitive game in a row without defeat.
The other goals were scored by Benjamin Henrichs (15'), Timo Werner (45'+2'), Dani Olmo (83') with a remarkable lob and Yussuf Poulsen (89').
Soichiro Kozuki (56th) was successful for Schalke, for whom little has changed even under the new coach Thomas Reis: After just one win in the past eleven Bundesliga games and four goals in the last nine, the situation with the promoted team is as hopeless as in 2021 , when the traditional club descended without serious resistance.
Reis reacted to the lack of goals and dropped second division record scorer Simon Terodde from the starting XI for the first time since the end of October.
Winter signing Michael Frey, on loan from Royal Antwerp last Friday, was allowed to try his luck as a "new player without pressure".
At RB, Werner made his comeback in the starting lineup.
Midfielder Konrad Laimer, who, according to kicker information, signed with Bayern Munich from the summer, was also part of the RB starting eleven.
Werner was instrumental in giving the visitors an early lead as he moored a long ball and played it on to Silva, who scored from 20 yards largely unperturbed.
The game was actually decided just eight minutes later: Henrichs also had a free shot after assisting Olmo.
Leipzig combined unhindered, Schalke just ran behind.
In the meantime, the game was reminiscent of a first round game in the DFB Cup with at least one class difference.
The gaps in the defense of the bottom of the table were as big as those in the stands, where at least 10,000 places remained free.
Frey hardly got a chance to demonstrate his skills as a Terodde substitute.
Most of the time, the Swiss had to get the ball himself deep in midfield.
No sign of rearing up.
The 22-year-old Kozuki, who was still playing in the regional league a few weeks ago, was the most conspicuous at Schalke.
Reis watched the one-sided action on the pitch largely motionless – with his hands deep in his pockets and a worried look.