Schalke went into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw away at Borussia Dortmund. Schalke looking to go 2nd with a two point gap and put pressure on rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Hertha went into the game on the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich. Hertha BSC looking to get back to winning way, no win in six for Die Blau-Weißen. A win would shorten the gap between 8th placed Augsburg and shed daylight between Hertha BSC and 10th placed Hoffenheim.
Early chances for the home side, costless kick at the edge of the box for Schalke, Leon Goretzka was fouled. Kaan Ayhan stepped up his effort rattled the post after 8 minutes. The 19 year old came close to scoring his first ever goal for Schalke. Moment’s later, Goretzka’s shot went miles over the bar.
Adrian Ramos received the ball after a mistake from Ayhan, he saw the on coming Ralf Fährmann, his lob over the bar.
Chinedu Obasi took it past Nico Schulz, then beating Levan Kobiashvili to ball rounds last minute replacement Rune Jarstein and slots it into the empty net. 1-0 Schalke.
Hertha were looking to equalise away from home. Ben Hatira’s shot deflected for a corner. Another chance, a cross to the far post by Sami Allagui, the cross fell to Ben Hatira he volleyed into the floor, the bounce took it over Fährmann’s goal.
Another chance for Schalke, costless kick by Ayhan, unlike earlier in the game, he couldn’t test Hertha’s goal.
Ben Hatira cut inside on his left, fired his shot goal-wards. His attempt could only find the roof of the net.
Half time Schalke 1-0 Hertha BSC, Obasi’s goal separates the two sides.
30 seconds after the restart, goal-scorer turned to provider, Obasi slipped Klass Jan Hunterlaar in and doubled Schalke’s lead. 2-0 Schalke. Jens Keller’s team talk played dividends. Goretzka had options left and right he picked out Hunterlaar, his shot dragged wide of the target.
Wagner’s attempt on goal, didn’t trouble Fährmann. Ronny’s first impact after being brought on, his shot sailed high and wide. Hertha BSC were awarded a costlesskick, the delivery was an easy catch for the midweek hero Fährmann. Cross from Alexander Baumjohann to the far post Allagui but he couldn’t get on the end of the cross.
Hunterlaar drove down the left, his shot well saved by Jarstein diving to his left.
Langkamp had a goal disallowed from a Ronny corner, some confusion to why it was disallowed. Pushing to get a goal back, Hertha piled on the pressure. A cross-from the right hand side, fell to Ramos his effort was squandered from just outside the 6-yard box. Pulled back by Schulz but he could only find a blue shirt. Soon after, long throw in by Hertha, Ramos’ flick on lands into the grateful arms of Fährmann
Full Time Schalke 2-0 Hertha Berlin, strikes from Obasi and Hunterlaar seal the 3 points for Schalke.
Schalke move up to second, two points ahead of rivals Dortmund. The win makes it 7 wins in their last 10 Bundesliga matches for die Könningblauen.
Hertha stay ninth, Hoffenheim just one point behind them. The gap between Hertha and Augsburg couldn’t be shortened. Now, it is no wins in 7 for Hertha.