The Royal Blues threw away a 3-0 lead at home on Friday night (September 20) against SV Darmstadt 98, ultimately falling 5-3. It was a stunning turnaround! Would you like to discuss the details of the match.
Head coach Karel Geraerts implemented four changes to the lineup after the recent loss to Karlsruher SC. Tomas Kalas made his return from a patellar tendon injury, playing for the first time since the season opener against Eintracht Braunschweig. He was paired with Marcin Kaminski, who, along with Mehmet Can Aydin and Christopher Antwi-Adjei—making his first start for the club—were all brought into the starting XI. Emil Højlund also returned to the squad for the first time since matchday 2 after recovering from a groin issue.
Felipe Sanchez and Martin Wasinski were on the bench, while Janik Bachmann was absent due to illness. Adrian Gantenbein suffered a thigh injury in training and will be out until the next international break.
Schalke started strong, registering their first shot within two minutes. Marcin Kaminski played a long ball down the left to Derry John Murkin, who chested it into the middle. Although Christopher Antwi-Adjei missed, Moussa Sylla seized the opportunity and fired a left-footed shot that was pushed to safety by goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen. Schalke dominated possession and looked more dangerous, which paid off when they took the lead in the 14th minute. After Amin Younes was fouled right outside the box, Tobias Mohr curled a free-kick over the wall and into the net, leaving Schuhen stranded.
Darmstadt’s first chance came in the 23rd minute when Killian Corredor unleashed a shot from distance. Justin Heekeren spilled the effort but recovered quickly to secure the ball before Fraser Hornby could pounce.
Schalke extended their lead in the 34th minute. Kenan Karaman played a pass to Antwi-Adjei on the edge of the box, who then set up Moussa Sylla in the center. Sylla’s initial shot was deflected onto the post by Clemens Riedel, and his follow-up was saved by goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen. However, on the third attempt, Sylla managed to bundle the ball over the line.
Just four minutes later, Ron Schallenberg scored his first goal for the club, making it 3-0. Marcin Kaminski’s free-kick from distance struck the Darmstadt wall and soared into the air, allowing Schallenberg to chip it over the onrushing Schuhen.
In the third minute of injury time, VAR stepped in to advise referee Florian Heft to award Darmstadt a penalty after Moussa Sylla handled the ball from a corner. Fraser Hornby confidently converted from the spot, giving the Lilies a glimmer of hope.
The first two chances of the second half went to Schalke, but Marcel Schuhen made two excellent saves, tipping efforts from Amin Younes (51’) and Kenan Karaman (53’) around the post. Despite this, Darmstadt came out strong and cut the deficit in the 57th minute. After Kai Klefisch’s shot hit the post, Luca Marseiler swiftly passed it to Isac Lidberg, who finished calmly.
Schalke struggled to escape their own half as Darmstadt pushed for an equalizer, which they achieved in the 75th minute. A miscontrolled ball by Marcin Kaminski allowed Lidberg to break free and curl a fantastic shot into the top corner.
Three minutes later, Tomas Kalas made a crucial tackle on substitute Fynn Lakenmacher, but Tobias Kempe’s follow-up attempt went over the bar.
After Schalke had a chance to restore their lead—Derry John Murkin firing over following a pass from Lasme in the 81st minute—the visitors struck twice late in the game to secure all three points. Isac Lidberg completed his hat-trick with a second-chance goal from a corner in the 86th minute, and Sergio Lopez added Darmstadt’s fifth in the seventh minute of injury time.
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