Schalke started the Bundesliga season in spectacular style as they secured a convincing 3-0 win over Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion.
The visitors opened the scoring after a cagey first half as Theo Gebre-Selassie lofted the ball over his own 'keeper and into the net. Die Konigsblauen had to wait until the second half to double their lead.
With 20 minutes to go Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting fired a shot home to seal the points for Schalke. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar compounded the misery on Bremen as his shot in the box found the net.
There were plenty of debutants on show at the Weserstadion. Felix Wiedwald, signed from Frankfurt was in goal for Bremen, Anthony Ujah was up front following his move from Koln with Ullisses Garcia playing following his signing from Grasshopper.
New Schalke signing Franco Di Santo started for Die Konigsblauen, having signed from their hosts this afternoon for £6 million. Fellow new signings Johannes Geis and Sascha Riether also made their debuts.
Bremen were the first side to really threaten after only four minutes. Zlatko Junzovic was given the ball by Garcia on the edge of the box before firing wide to the left.
The hosts were on top for the opening proceedings and it took nearly ten minutes for Schalke to register a bona-fide shot on goal. Choupo-Moting blazed his shot from outside the box over the bar. However this seemed to spark the visitors into action.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had an attempt blocked immediately after Choupo-Moting's missed effort. Die Knappen continued to be on top and had several efforts thwarted by the Bremen defence.
An injury to Matija Nastasic saw him replaced by Roman Neustadter, as the commanding centre back went down. Choupo-Moting continued to be a constant threat for Schalke and after constant threatening from Die Knappen, they got a reward for their efforts.
A Spectacular Own-Goal
Junzovic tried a half-volley which was well held by Ralf Fahrmann in the Schalke goal. The visitors went on the counter-attack and when trying to win the ball back, Theo Gebre-Selassie put the ball into his own net to give Schalke the lead.
The away side were good value for their lead after various attempts on goal but Werder continued to stay in the game but went in at the break 1-0 down thanks to an unfortunate own-goal. With Bremen enjoing more possession in the first half, Schalke were simply looking more clinical in front of goal.
Schalke continued the second half as they ended the first. Five minutes into the second period Bremen 'keeper Wiedwald had to be on top form to stop Huntelaar from making it two. Julian Draxler handed the ball to Huntelaar, with the Dutchman's right footed effort being well saved by Wiedwald.
Johannsson Makes His Debut
Bremen's big signings Aron Johannsson came on for his debut ten minutes into the half and was instantly in amongst the action. He was given the ball on the outside of the box by Ujah, and tried to get a shot away on goal, only for it to be blocked by the Schalke defence.
The two sides continued to look very neck and neck as a Neustadter header flew over the bar. However the visitors did indeed double their lead a few moments later.
Man Of The Match Performance For Choupo-Moting
Choupo-Moting, who'd been threatening all afternoon, got a reward for his efforts midway through the second half as his right footed strike flew past Wiedwald and into the corner of the net. A deserving goal for the player but somewhat unfair on Bremen.
The hosts seemed to get desperate in the final proceedings as Garcia attempted an audacious attempt on goal from 35 yards out, the effort was blocked and Bremen frustrated again.
Huntelaar made it three as he was found in the box by substitute Leroy Sane and he fired home the ball to put the icing on the cake for Schalke.
The visitors secured a dominant win and open their Bundesliga 2015-16 account with an away win at a side who weren't clinical enough and failed to make the most of their possession.