Schalke kicked off the tie, winless, in front of a full to bursting WeserStadion. Selke brushed the first opportunity of the night narrowly wide early doors. Fährmann was beaten as well as the far post unfortunately for the Under 19 European Champion. 

The opening ten were very much evenly contested and Selke's early effort remained the only concrete chance for either side.

Schalke' fast break following Bartels failed cross, was awarded with a corner, in which they were unable to cause any problems from. Selke scared the visitors for the second time soon after play switched to the other end. The book was first out on the sixteenth minute as Huntelaar was punished for a foul. 

Uchida rushed past two defenders before laying off to a costless Huntelaar in the box but the flag had been raised and the promising move was therefore abruptly stopped.

The game was brought into disrepute half way into the half as Fährmann recovered his own spillage before being clattered by an on-rushing Di Santo. Di Santo was then cautioned. Jeers began to ring around the ground every time Fährmann came into contact with the ball and jeers continued up until the half end. 

Junuzovic lofted one into the box and Di Santo got a foot to the ball as well as a visiting player's head. Di Santo then wound up Fährmann and was lucky to escape being given his marching orders after he grabbed Fährmann's face. 

Lukimya rose above the others but could only look as his header crashed onto the top of the net. Sam was first to get a real shot away for Schalke but the summer acquisition could only send it into the side netting. Choupo-Moting was then able to get a shot away which was deflected out for a corner.

The hosts cleared the corner with ease and broke themselves. Bartels squared it for Elia and had it not been for Fährmann's superb save the visitors would have been trailing.

Ayhan's costless kick from the half way line deceived everyone and there was almost a repeat of Hakan Calhanoglu's long range costless kick - Dortmund last term but the post got in the way of Ayhan's glory before the half came to a close.

Bremen re-emerged unchanged while Schalke swapped Sam out for Clemens before the hosts got the game back underway.

With their first attack of the half just two minutes in, Meyer darted through before slotting it under Wolf to give the visitors an unlikely lead. Roman Neustädter headed home from a corner to double Schalke's lead just three minutes later. If the Royal Blue's first goal had not rocked Bremen, the second most definitely did. 

Junuzovic stood over a costless kick roughly thirty yards out and left Fährmann stretching to knock it found the post for a corner. Calls for a penalty aroused from the corner as Lukimya felt his shirt had been pulled. Referee, Wolfgang Stark dismissed the claims and waved play on.

Busch then sent one Fährmann's way but the keeper came out on top and continued with his fine performance. Up the other end, Huntelaar tried Wolf from range but the Dutchman's effort flew high and wide. 

Garcia appeared to be hacked down in the box but the referee saw otherwise and booked Garcia for simulation. Despite protests from the Bremen players, Stark's decision was soon justified by the television replay.

Bremen began to attack in numbers but were faced by an equally as well numbered Schalke defence determined not to throw their lead. Huntelaar and recent sub Barnetta both came close as a result of the increased space in Bremen's defensive third.

Barnetta sealed the deal for Schalke and killed the game off after he rounded Wolf and passed into an empty net to make it 3-0 with little over five minutes regulation time to play.

Late on, Fährmann denied Di Santo of nicking a consolation for a depleted Bremen side before the fourth official signaled an additional two minutes time.

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About the author
Cammy Anderson
Calcio-editor-in-chief Email: [email protected]