Schalke entered matchday 4 of the Europa League having never lost a group stage match in the competition, and they remain invincible after beating the Russian club FC Krasnodar to secure a ticket to the Round of 32.
FC Schalke 04 vs FC Krasnodar 2-0
Goals: 1-0 Caiçara (25’) 2-0 Bentaleb (27’)
Krasnodar started the game with a bit of swagger, as the Russians had the first chances of the game, but Ralf Fährmann did brilliantly to stop a close range shot by Ricardo Laborde. Schalke then opened the scoring against the run of play, as Junior Caicara got on the end of a wonderful cross by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and moments later Nabil Bentaleb put Schalke in complete control of the game when he completed a wonderful play by Caiçara.
Schalke started the second half with confidence, and Krasnodar only had one chance in the second period, but a shot by Joaozinho went over Ralf Fährmann’s goal. The royal-blues could have increased the lead, but Krasnodar’s keeper Stanislav Kritsyuk did well to stop a close range backheel effort by Yevhen Konoplyanka, and a wonderful freekick by Naldo. The result means that Schalke are qualified for the Round of 32 with two matchdays to spare in the group stage of the Europa League.
Финальный свисток. #ШалькеКраснодар 2:0 pic.twitter.com/nvvMuN3rNh
— FCKrasnodar (@FCKrasnodar) November 3, 2016
Kranodar meanwhile remain in second place, as Red Bull Salzburg has picked up its first victory in Group I with a 2-0 win over OGC Nice. Igor Shalimov’s men, however, will have to recover quickly from the double defeat against the German’s if they want to secure a passage to the Round of 32.
Schalke vs Krasnodar Match Report – Man of the Match
Caiçara had a great game, as the Brazilian scored the opener, and then wonderfully set up Bentaleb for Schalke’s second goal.
Schalke vs Krasnodar Match Report – Talking Point
The victory continues Schalke’s unbelievable unbeaten record in the group stage of the Europa League, as die Knappen have now been undefeated in their 16 games in the group stage of the competition.
Match Stats
- Schalke has never lost a group stage match in the UEFA Europa League.
- Schalke are now just one of three clubs that have won every match in the Group Stage of the Europa League this season.
- Krasnodar remains without a victory on German soil.
Line-ups
Fährmann – Höwedes (c), Naldo, Nastasic – Junior Caicara, Stambouli , Baba (Kolasinac 68’) – Bentaleb (Goretzka 57’), Aogo – Choupo-Moting, Konoplyanka (Schöpf 81’)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl
Kritsyuk – Jedrzejczyk (Kaleshin 75’), Naldo, Granqvist (c), Petrov – Kabore – Pereyra, Kouassi Eboue – Podberezkin (Laborde 12’), Joaozinho – Akhmedov (Izmailov 61’)
Coach: Igor Shalimov
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