Schalke 04 get first win against SC Freiburg
Schalke 04 claimed three points against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Wednesday in a 2–1 victory.
It was Felix Magath's first competitive victory this season, "This is a bit of relief. The first three points are always the hardest," the manager said after the win.
How it happened
Ivan Rakitic and new signing Raul Gonzalez enjoyed a fluid passing exchange outside of the box before the former played in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar with a first-time ball.
With a clear path to goal, the Dutch striker advanced and hit a low shot at Oliver Baumann. The keeper managed to clear the danger, but only into the path of Rakitic, who scored from the rebound to put
Schalke ahead 1-0.
Freiburg striker Papiss Cisse came close minutes later, as the Senegalese number nine stole in at the near post only to steer a cross wide of the post.
Raul continued to be the link between midfield and attack, dropping deep to initiate plays before surging forward into the box, a role that seemed to have been clearly instructed by Magath. The Spaniard
made himself available again, laying the ball off to Jose Jurado whose long-range effort was comfortably saved.
Schalke's best opportunity before the break came from a fiercely struck free kick by Lukas Schmitz. The German's hard shot was blocked by Baumann, but the rebound fell to Huntelaar, who did well to put
his header on target. The keeper was quick to react, tipping the ball over the bar.
Oliver Barth and Huntelaar then chased a ball down the left wing. As the Freiburg defender was collecting the ball for a throw-in, he inexplicably elbowed the striker in the neck, earning him a booking
when a straight red card would have been warranted.
In the 69th minute, Cisse finished off a gorgeous attacking move involving five of Freiburg's players, hitting the ball low into the right corner on the bounce to pull his side level to Magath's despair
on the bench.
Moments later, Huntelaar turned on the edge of the box, sending a left-footed strike high over the goal. The striker's moment would come late in the game, as he broke clear in the area to connect with
Joel Matip's low cross and get the winning goal for his new club.
Freiburg continued to press as Kisho Yano's header bounced just wide of the left post after Cisse had played him in.
Schalke held on to win
With Freiburg reduced to 10 men after Ivica Banovic's red card, Schalke's lead was protected, and Magath's team went on to claim their first competitive victory this season.
"It's important for the team, for the coach, for the supporters, for everyone to win," Huntelaar said after the game, delighted to have brought his club three points.
Freiburg are now fifth in the league, on nine points, while Schalke remain last, level on three points with VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht.
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