Christian Günter and Jonathan Schmid's goals secured another three points for Freiburg, who finally seem to be hitting form. Schalke's inconsistencies continue, even with a different coach, with very little positives to be taken from the game.
Freiburg and Christian Streich were buoyed by their first win of the season against FC Köln last weekend. Streich, keen to keep continuity and stick to the 'if it isn't broke don't fix it' adage, selected an identical starting eleven to that which notched up those three points. After losing 4-2 to Sporting in the Champions League, Roberto di Matteo was keen to get things back on track and install some consistence and confidence. Jan Kirchhoff and Sidney Sam replaced Christian Fuchs and Chinedu Obasi, allowing Dennis Aogo to return to his natural left-back position.
Both goalkeepers were called into action very early on, as they pulled out stellar stops to deny the respective attackers. Ralf Fährmann used his feet to deny Sebastian Freis an opening goal; at the other end, Roman Bürki produced a fine save and prevented Klass-Jan Huntelaar from sending them into the lead. The Swiss stopper was then alert to halt a Maxi Meyer drive, that was speeding towards the bottom corner, as the two teams seemed willing to throw men forward.
As the 'keepers remained busy, Fährmann was powerless to prevent Freiburg from taking the lead. After Aogo had given the ball away, Schalke were unable to regroup and duly conceded. Sebastian Kerk's cross looked to have been blocked by Benedikt Höwedes' hand, though that mattered little when Christian Günter slammed home the ball from twelve yards. An emphatic finish from the left-back, who was surprised as anyone to find himself with the chance, finished with the touch of a veteran striker.
The rest of the half was an even affair, with neither side able to get on top. Kevin-Prince Boateng replaced Meyer at the beginning of the second period but it took a largely similar pattern to the first; Schalke were dominating possession and territory, but couldn't force their way through a fantastically resilient Freiburg defence. That confidence was rising through the team and into the attacking players, as Fährmann was called upon to stop Vladimir Darida's training ground costless-kick and then tip Jonathan Schmid's powerful strike onto the bar.
Schalke were beginning to lose their grip on the game; Freiburg ventured forward with increasing regularity and got a deserved second goal. Schmid had been threatening to get on the score-sheet all game, but when the Royal Blues gave the ball away to Darida, he managed to net his first goal of the season. The Czech's cross wasn't properly by Aogo cleared and Schmid's touch and volley into the top corner was nothing short of superb.
Freiburg closed out the game to record their second win in as many games and of the season, lifitng them to thirteenth place. Schalke, on the other hand, are beginning to lose the early di Matteo momentum and they slip to eleventh. SCF travel to Mainz in two weeks, while the Royal Blues will want to get back on track against Wolfsburg.