The overjoyed match winners experienced the second of redemption, sweaty, from the stands. Triple scorer Matthew Hoppe and his sensational supplier Amine Harit had just sat down after many hugs and congratulations, when they had to jump up again to cheer. It was actually done: Schalke 04 won! And how.
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At the very last opportunity the Royal Blues, mocked for months, avoided setting the inglorious Bundesliga record that Tasmania Berlin had set 55 years ago with 31 games in a row without a win. Because Matthew Hoppe, 19 and otherwise active in the Regionalliga, scored three goals in the 4-0 (1-0) against TSG Hoffenheim – and Harit, who had been suspended in the meantime, prepared all of them.
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“The relief is great,” said sports director Jochen Schneider, “huge, even. But that was only the first step. Now, of course, it continues.” Hoppe shyly reported on “Sky” that he had “no words for this day. I hope we keep fighting.”
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For Schalke it meant the first win of the season on matchday 15 on the home debut of the new coach Christian Gross – but above all the first Bundesliga success after 30 unsuccessful attempts. After Hoppe’s first three Bundesliga goals (42nd, 57th, 63rd), Harit crowned his brilliant performance with the 4-0 (80th).
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Bundesliga: Schalke passes Rote Laterne to Mainz
Schalke with the conspicuous returnee Sead Kolasinac even gave up the red lantern to Mainz 05 with the first Bundesliga three in 358 days (2-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach on January 17, 2020).
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It should be very uncomfortable for guest coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who lost four of the last five Bundesliga games with Hoffenheim – and has to live with the flaw of having involuntarily kissed Schalke awake. However, Hoeneß is “clearly” not up for grabs, said professional football director Alexander Rosen on Sky.
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Schalke was present in the duels in the early stages and radiated more danger than the guests, who were missing a whole team due to corona and injuries – which meant that 18-year-old Marco John made his Bundesliga debut.
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Harit, who was suspended at Schalke in autumn and pardoned again, challenged the ball as he had been in a long time, used his agility and caused some disorder in the Hoffenheim defense – as in the 14th minute when the pass to Hoppe, who finished with the right Outside instep still missed the gate.
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After that it rained down on Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann, who skillfully prevented the deficit, especially against the Croatian vice world champion Andrej Kramaric (30th). When the Hoffenheim leadership seemed only a matter of time, Harit perfectly staged a counterattack for Hoppe. The American stayed cool and lobbed Oliver Baumann in the TSG gate.
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After the break, Schalke wanted to calm his nerves with more good offensive actions. National player Suat Serdar tried it in vain against Baumann (55th), then Hoppe put in two more preparatory work by Harit.
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