There was no doubting that the Sunday afternoon encounter in Bavaria would be an important match in the race for continental football, with the sides in 6th and 5th respectively facing off in Augsburg.
The home side knew three points would take them above Schalke and bring them ever closer to their first experience of European competition, while the visitors needed the win to stay in touch with Leverkusen who before the game were six points ahead in fourth place.
Despite the important 1-0 victory against Wolfsburg, Augsburg had struggled for recent form, losing four out of their last six fixtures, and the Fuggerstädter have failed to beat Schalke in seven meeting since their promotion to the top-tier, with five wins for the Royal Blues in that period. Having only lost twice their this season, Augsburg have turned their stadium into a fortress, and this would not be an easy game by any stretch.
The supporters in the away end of a packed SGL Arena donned blue and white ponchos in what was a rocking atmosphere, and they eagerly awaited the return of Leon Goretzka, who Di Matteo put straight into the starting XI having spent a while on the sidelines with an injury. Meanwhile, the hosts welcomed back captain Paul Verhaegh after seven weeks out.
In the second minute their was a half-chance at each end. Firstly, Højbjerg hit a shot narrowly over the bar of Fährmann, while at the other end seconds later Huntelaar lofted a shot of the bar from twenty yards out in a frantic start in Bavaria.
Højbjerg was getting forward in the early stages, and headed over in space in the 8th minute, and it was clear the Dane would be the more attacking of the midfield trio for the home side.
Schalke came very close to breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute as Matip glanced a header across goal from the near post, and he almost caught Werner out who had just started to peel off the far post. Nevertheless, the ball went inches wide of the far left post.
Augsburg had a dangerous free-kick awarded in the 14th minute when Nastasić was adjudged to have held Bobadilla with his back to goal. The shot was well blocked by Höwedes, and the resulting corner was well dealt with.
After the free-kick, Schalke made the first change as the returning Goretzka unfortunately had to be taken off, replaced by Aogo on the left side.
In the 18th minute their was a great chance as Hong and Werner both had chances to convert an inswinging free-kick from the left side, but the goal mouth scramble was eventually cleared after good work from Fährmann.
Caiuby, sporting a face mask, went close with a shot in the 23rd minute when perhaps he should have passed, and that came two minutes after he was played through on goal but adjudged offside by the linesman, but he had already curled his first-time shot wide.
As the game struggled to flow, Eric-Maxim Chuopo-Moting passed to Höger on the edge of the box in the 29th minute, but his first time shot was well wide after a deflection, but he had acres of space to pick a spot.
Daniel Beier hit a sweet volley wide just two minutes later after a free-kick was cleared to him 18 yards out, but the ball spun wide of the right post much to the relief of Fährmann. At the other end Max Meyer blazed over from a good position as both sides struggled for supremacy and the game lacked a clinicalness from either team.
Matip then brought down Caiuby as he was running through on goal in the 34th minute, but was only given a yellow card as the referee felt Nastasić was coming round to cover in what was a controversial incident in a critical part of the game.
Just three minutes before the break Augsburg had another free-kick just outside the box after Höwedes fouled, but Højbjerg hit the wall with his first effort, and sent the follow-up volley marginally wide of the left post.
Caiuby tested Fährmann with a low drive across goal with the last kick of the first half, bringing to an end a poor first period in terms of action.
The teams went in deadlocked at 0-0 after 45 minutes, after a half that was very niggly with no real quality on show from either side. The game had some aggression but lacked chances, and it wasn't a fair reflection of what either side can do.
Markus Weinzierl's side certainly tried to play football more, while Di Matteo’s Schalke team struggled to really control any aspect of the game.
Jefferson Farfan came on in place of Christian Fuchs for the second half, clearly a move by Roberto Di Matteo to instigate some attacking creativity in the form of the dynamic winger.
Just a minute into the second half the foul-fest continued as Dominik Kohr kicked Barnetta into the air to earn the fourth booking of the game. Just moments later Huntelaar headed straight at Hitz after a good cross from Farfan where the Dutchman could have done better.
Schalke started the second half better, and when Barnetta won the ball back in the final third for the blues, Huntelaar was expected to score as he received the ball ten yards out with just the ‘keeper to beat. However, Hitz was equal to his tame effort straight down the middle, but the attacking intent was there from Schalke which was lacking for most of the opening 45 minutes.
On the hour mark Klavan headed just over from a corner for Augsburg, but he had already fouled Huntelaar as the ball came in according to referee Meyer.
As the game was progressively sapped of any vibrance, Farfan went close with twenty minutes left but his effort was wide. A minute later Huntelaar hit a shot straight at Hitz, and it was apparent that one goal would nick it.
Bobadilla came close with yet another free-kick just outside the box for the hosts, but they couldn't convert any of the set piece opportunities Schalke had provided them with.
In the 77th minute Tobias Werner hit a shot straight at Fährmann in space as the home side started to turn the screw with not long left in the game, in the aim of grabbing a vital late winner to please the capacity crowd.
After countless threatening set pieces Augsburg finally came close as Bobadilla bent a fierce effort over the wall, but half a yard over the bar as well unluckily for the Croatian.
Both teams tried to force the issue, but tired legs prevailed, and the one minute added time at the end of the game was a perfect indicator of the lack of action.
The game finished the way it started, with a 0-0 result that doesn't particularly favour either side. Schalke hardly helped their top four ambitions, while Augsburg couldn't hop above the visitors and cement their European situation as they would have played.
The result perhaps marginally favoured Augsburg, but nonetheless it was a poor game lacking a clinical touch from either side. The teams stay 6th and 5th respectively, and with lots of points still to play for it will be an interesting finale to the season in terms of continental qualification, with Schalke and Augsburg destined to be somewhere around the top seven.