Schalke travel to the capital city of Berlin to take on Hertha in the two sides 100th competitive match.
Schalke also face two former players with Fabian Reese and Jon Joe Kenny, now playing for Hertha.
Schalke also welcome back the captain as Kenan Karaman makes his return to the squad after missing two matches.
In front of a pack Olympia Stadion with 70,000 in attendance, the referee blows the whistle to get the match underway.
A slow cautious start for both sides with no real attack, lots of blocked shots from both sides to start.
Schalke win a corner kick in the 27th minute, Seguin (with a bandage on his head from last weeks head on head collision) delivers the ball to the far post, the Hertha keeper Ernst misjudges the ball and Tomas Kalas is there to head the ball into the back of the net for his first goal this season and his second goal for Schalke overall.
HERTHA 0 - SCHALKE 1
That is Schalke's first away goal scored in 2025.
Hertha still looking to register a shot at keeper Loris Karius, as the first half comes to a close,
Berlin comes close to getting the equalizer, in the 41st minute Klemens crosses the ball into the box, the ball passes Reese but on the far right side Deyovaisio Zeefuik comes flying in and fully connects with a diving header but the ball goes just wide of the net and is on the wrong side of the post and the ball is out of play, a huge missed chance by Hertha, and still no shots at Karius registered.
HALF TIME:
HERTHA 0 - SCHALKE 1
Hertha come out of the break ready to go, and in the 48th minute make up for no shots at Karius, as Hertha make him save two shots back to back (just as Karius had to do last week) Jon Joe Kenny is first as his powerful shot at goal is parried out by Karius to Cuisance, who takes his shot but again Karius is able to make the quick reaction save.
In the 51st minute it is Hertha on the attack again and Zeefuik sends Reese into the penalty area with a great pass, as Reese touches the ball Kalas comes sliding in front of Reese to block the shot but Reese holds the ball and takes a step back and is able to beat Karius but putting the ball into the corner, a great goal from the former Schalke player.
HERTHA 1 - SCHALKE 1
That goal ends a five hour goal drought for Hertha.
But unfortunately for the hosts with only a few seconds after kick off Schalke striker Ba brings the ball into the box and at the 53rd minute is brought down by Maya and the referee instantly points to the spot for the penalty,
After a quick VAR check Karaman steps up to take the shot and he delivers the shot bottom right corner and Karaman on his return gets his 12th goal of the season, and Schalke retake the lead.
HERTHA 1 - SCHALKE 2
Hertha still hunting for a goal and have been very much in control of the match since the go ahead goal by Schalke,
In the 67th minute a mistake by Karius as he drops the ball on a easy play but the two Hertha plays in the box can't score and finally the ball is cleared.
Then in the 69th minute we see the same play like in the first half, this time Cuisance gets passed the defender and is able to cross the ball in the box to the far post and again Zeefuik comes flying in with a diving header and again the ball goes just wide of the net.
It is all Hertha in the second half as Schalke are just now holding on, Reese just misses a bicycle kick attempt in the 76th minute
A play you rarely see is forced by Schalke striker Remmert as he forces the Hertha players to commit a back-pass at the six-yard spot giving Schalke a indirect free kick at the six yard spot.
As Hertha lines almost the full team on the goal line along with the full Schalke squad the tap of the ball from Seguin to Karaman and from his blast of the ball Zeefuik is the one who blocks it and the ball is out.
In the 84th minute Hertha create a huge chance as Reese flys by everyone with his pace on a counter attack he then plays the perfect pass in the six-yard box, but the intended target of the pass, Wollschläger can't convert the play with Karius beaten and a for sure goal.
Its all Hertha again in the 87th minute as Schalke are just trying to survive the pressure, as again Karius is beaten and Winkler just needs to shoot the ball into a empty net but he swings and misses the ball completely.
Hertha again look for the equalizer at the 90th but Wollschläger gets his head on the ball put he puts it just over the crossbar.
Hertha end the match with one last corner attempt with everyone in the box the keeper comes up as well but finally Karius grabs the ball and the referee blows the whistle and Schalke hang on to claim all 3 pts on the road.
FULL TIME:
HERTHA 1 - SCHALKE 2
Schalke are very lucky to leave the capital with all 3 points today, a very shakey match from winter siging Karius as he made lots of mistakes today but only that Hertha could not capture the moments they created for themselves saved Schalke, easily Schalke could have lost by a few goals if Hertha were able to take advantage of such huge chances they had with Karius either beaten or out of position.
With the away victory Schalke now go back into 11th spot in the table with 33 points, this should create safety for the Royal Blues from worrying about relegation zone, which they are eleven points clear of, which will now allow the club to start planning for next season.
Hertha Berlin are in trouble as they are now in 14th spot and only 4pts away from relegation zone
Next match for Schalke is this Friday back home to welcome Hannover.
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