In the duel between the traditional clubs, 1. FC Kaiserslautern has ended its crisis and dealt FC Schalke 04 another serious setback. On the 19th matchday, coach Dimitrios Grammozis’ team clearly defeated the guests from Gelsenkirchen 4:1 (1:0).
This should initially put an end to the unrest surrounding the traditional Palatinate club, which had previously lost seven league games in a row. In the week before the game against Schalke, false news about the team and coach was spread on social media, which the club and coach Grammozis publicly rejected. Schalke, on the other hand, made a false start to 2024 and scored zero points in the first two games of the year.
In the Fritz Walter Stadium, which was sold out with 49,327 spectators, Kaiserslautern was the more active team at the beginning. Double goalscorer Ragnar Ache (10th minute/59th) paved the way for the Palatinate team to win. Filip Stojilkovic (67th) and Aaron Opoku (70th) then increased within a few minutes.
The interim equalizer by Schalke’s new signing Darko Churlinov (51st) became a minor matter. The 23-year-old offensive player is initially on loan from English first division club FC Burnley until the end of the season, as Schalke announced this week.
Hannover gut in Form
Hannover 96 has preserved its chances in the race for promotion. The Lower Saxony team delivered a convincing performance in the 3-0 (2-0) win against the disappointing 1. FC Nürnberg and moved a little closer to the top three places.
However, the gap to third party Hamburger SV, who will play on Sunday, is still six points. Havard Nielsen (6th minute/38th) and Cedric Teuchert (90th+2) scored the hosts’ goals.
Many visiting fans decided not to visit the stadium because, according to the club, they had been banned at short notice from performing a choreo that had been registered on time. Hanover fans, on the other hand, caused the game to be interrupted. The supporters threw tennis balls onto the grass several times in protest against the DFL’s planned investor involvement.
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But Hannover was the focus not only off the pitch, but above all on the pitch: coach Stefan Leitl’s team pushed the guests deep into their own half with beautiful combinations. The Nuremberg team were often far too passive in the duels, 96 were clearly superior.
The guests became more active in the second half, Can Uzun (61′) failed to hit the post. The hosts took things a little easier, but they always came up with promising opportunities. Nuremberg’s goalkeeper Carl Klaus initially prevented the clearer 96 victory, but the keeper, who had moved far up, was then no longer able to decisively prevent Teuchert’s goal.