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Schalke's Cedric Brunner complains
Photo:
Franziska Gora / Jan Huebner / IMAGO
FC Schalke 04 suffered their 13th defeat of the season in the 2nd Bundesliga.
The Bundesliga relegated team had a catastrophic first half against 1. FC Magdeburg, a direct competitor in the relegation battle, and lost 0:3 (0:3).
Silas Gnaka (17th minute), Mohammed El Hankouri (35th/penalty) and Tatsuya Ito (45th+2) scored for Magdeburg.
The Royal Blues are still in 14th place in the table with 26 points, the lead over the relegation zone is four points, although Hansa Rostock could get closer with a win in Düsseldorf on Sunday.
Schalke have to do everything in their power to avoid falling into the 3rd league for financial reasons.
Four changes at half time
The spectators in the Magdeburg Arena saw two very different halves of the game.
Before the break the hosts dominated, Schalke put in a frightening performance both tactically and individually.
Cedric Brunner in particular on the right defensive side seemed overwhelmed in many situations.
Coach Karel Geraerts made four changes at the start of the second half.
In fact, the guests could have turned the game around given the abundance of good chances to score, but the defensive misfires in the first half were now accompanied by poor conversion of chances.
Neither Kenan Karaman (58th, 71st) nor substitute Bryan Lasme (75th), Thomas Ouwejan (77th) or Simon Terodde (85th) took advantage of their opportunities.
And on the other hand, Magdeburg could have scored a fourth or even fifth goal on some counterattacks.
Difficult weeks now follow for Schalke, which makes it possible for them to slip further in the table.
First, league leaders St. Pauli come to Gelsenkirchen next Friday, followed by another home game against SC Paderborn and in three weeks they go to fellow relegated team Hertha BSC.
Krae