The frustration was great, the emotions ran high: When a point for morale turned into a painful 2: 3 defeat against FC Augsburg, a bitter realization ripened. FC Schalke 04 is currently not a top club that has repaired a slip with promotion. The traditional club is a completely normal climber who will probably have to fight against relegation until the end of the season. Everyone at Schalke suspected or knew that. But they hoped it would be different.

"Wow, we were so close to turning the game in our direction. And in the end you got zero points and you were injured," said sporting director Rouven Schröder. "Actually, it was a game as you wish it to be," said Schröder, referring to the fact that his team caught up to a 0-2 draw and suddenly played in the majority at 2-2 after the yellow-red card against Mergim Berisha . "Then you get goosebumps, you have the feeling that it's turning now. It would have needed a St. Pauli feeling, then we would have turned the thing completely."

With the "St. Pauli feeling" Schröder alluded to the decisive game for promotion. But that was still in the second division. Back in the upper house, Schalke continue to learn the hard way. With a majority of 2: 2, "the boys were a bit greedy. They wanted to force it and got restless," said coach Frank Kramer: "You can't blame them for that. But we have to do better." Schröder stated: "Today's learning process means: If you don't score a third goal, you can't get a third. If you go out with a point after the game, that's clearly a very, very positive result." That was it after goals from Simon Terodde (33rd minute) and Tom Krauss (63rd) after Ermedin Demirovic had given Augsburg the lead with a brace (9th and 21st). But then came the cold shower despite being outnumbered by FCA veteran André Hahn.

Schalke are by no means lacking in mentality and passion, and that was also evident on Sunday. But the quality, especially in width. That's why Sepp van den Berg's injury, who sustained a serious ligament injury, is so serious. "It's bitter because the boy went his way step by step," said Schröder: "And in central defense Ibrahima Cissé and Marcin Kaminski are already injured. There are fewer." Like van den Berg, offensive player Rodrigo Zalazar will not be able to play again this year, he suffered a metatarsal fracture against Augsburg.

Also to competitors in the direct table environment. Although Schalke are still above the line in 15th place, they have settled down at the bottom on sight. Twelfth Mainz has scored almost twice as many as the Royal Blues with eleven points. They are now traveling to Leverkusen for the basement duel, where the opposing coach Gerardo Seoane has to win to save his job.

Because of all these circumstances, the Augsburg game was so groundbreaking. And the defeat so bitter. After the final whistle, mugs of beer flew from the stands at Augsburg manager Stefan Reuter and, according to coach Enrico Maassen, a lighter at goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz. And the disappointment was also deep among the players. Striker Simon Terodde had to be held back after the final whistle when he fiddled with Gikiewicz. "I'm a very emotional player," explained Terodde: "And losing a game like that in the end just hurts."

Soccer Bundesliga