Schalke came into this game on the back of some great form following a win against rivals Borussia Dortmund and a convincing win over Werder Bremen. Their last Champions League game gave the fans hope as they drew away to group favourites Chelsea. Schalke came into the game favourites.
Maribor also salvaged a draw in their first Champions League game at home to Sporting Lisbon. They came into this game off a 0-0 draw in their domestic league but they had their unbeaten streak. They came into this game as huge underdogs with cause for concern for the Royal Blues.
Schalke had the early pressure in the game, Aogo’s costless kick grazed the bar on its way through; then Hunterlaar fired straight at Handanovic, who was rarely tested in the first half. As of then Schalke could only create half chances on the Slovenians goal, Boateng’s wayward volley, Choupo Moting’s powerless header and numerous long-range efforts, which barely tested Maribor's custodian.
An astonishing effort from Bohar had Fahrmann scrambling, as his half way line effort only just went over the bar. From there, the visitors had pressurised Schalke giving them real scares, Bohar and Tavares linked up and forced a low save out of Fahrmann and on thirty-seven minutes Vrsic found Bohar in the penalty area unmarked and he finished, with Fahrmann only able to get a slight hand onto it. Schalke push on in the remaining minutes of the half but they failed to create chances and get into the right areas to score, Barnetta and Draxler only saw their shots blocked. Schalke went in at the break level, following Bohar’s thirty-seventh minute strike.
Schalke came out in the second half with real intent; Draxler couldn’t keep his volley down following a headed clearance. Just eleven minutes after the restart, Schalke equalised through key man Hunterlaar, a scrappy goal from Schalke’s point but they got the all important equaliser following a mistake in the defence where Viler’s poor pass went straight to the feet of the Dutchmen and he beat the defender and the keeper with his effort slotting into the bottom right hand corner. Schalke pushed on with real incentive from the goal and four minutes later, Uchida, Hunterlaar and Draxler linked up, but Draxler’s brilliant move forced a brilliant save from Handanovic. Schalke couldn’t break down the strong and well-organised back line of Maribor. More half chances came for the home side, Boateng had numerous efforts from range that failed to provide any real threat, which resulted in his substitution ten minutes from time.
Maribor held on and grabbed a vital point as they did in their previous game. Their next game is against group leaders Chelsea who should be wary of the well-organized side. Schalke couldn’t make chances pay and resulted in going for the spectacular which didn’t quite come off but aside from the result their run of good form continues and they face Sporting Lisbon next in the Champions League.