Frank Kramer looked into space with a sad expression, occasional shouts of "Kramer out!" could be heard in the stands: After the next setback, the coach at FC Schalke 04 should be hard to keep.
After a long, dedicated but unlucky performance, the Bundesliga promoted suffered their fourth defeat in a row in a 0:3 (0:2) at home against TSG Hoffenheim on Friday evening.
Schalke's sporting director had previously demanded a reaction from the team, which was done in a fighting manner - but again no points were scored. Instead, the Kramer team had a lot of bad luck with two post hits and two legitimate penalties for Hoffenheim, which were only awarded after the video referee intervened.
Skov scores twice
Robert Skov safely converted both penalties (11th minute/59th). In addition, Munas Dabbur (45. 2) scored shortly before the break during a Schalke urge phase after a counterattack. As a result, the team of former Schalke coach André Breitenreiter moved up to third place in the Champions League for at least one day. "We performed well again and were more effective," said TSG midfielder Grischa Prömel.
After the tenth day of play, however, Schalke will definitely fall back to a direct relegation zone. At the end of the game, it was still unclear whether Kramer would be back on the Schalke bench for another duel between the two clubs in the DFB Cup in Sinsheim on Tuesday. After the third Hoffenheim goal, some fans shouted “Kramer out” like the last time it was 4-0 at Bayer Leverkusen.
Hoffenheim ohne Kramaric
Hoffenheim had to do without their top striker Andrej Kramaric for a short time, who was unable to play after a hit to his ankle. At Schalke, the counted Kramer changed his starting eleven three times, but he apparently did without a tactical change from the four to a three-man defense. Because as the game went on, the defensive tactics got pretty wild. The idea wasn't exactly clear.
Kramer's worries increased immediately after the kick-off, Schalke helped a lot in the 0:1. In the crowded penalty area, Leo Greiml came too late in the fight for the ball against Christoph Baumgartner, the Austrian central defender kicked his compatriot in the shin. According to the pictures on the video monitor, referee Florian Badstübner had no choice but to point to the point. Skov converted safely.
The Royal Blues didn't give up, which the fans rewarded with loud cheers. The effort was right, the miners fought for scoring chances. When Florent Mollet and Thomas Ouwejan had a double chance after half an hour, the post and then guest goalkeeper Oliver Baumann prevented the deserved equalizer.
In defense, however, Schalke again revealed large gaps in counterattacks. Kramaric's substitute Georginio Rutter didn't accept the invitation to make it 2-0 (23'). Dabbur did better just before half-time with a remarkable flick. Schalke, who missed a chance up front through Simon Terodde, were literally overrun again in a counterattack.
Kramer reacted and brought on Schalke's home-grown Mehmet Aydin for Cedric Brunner at half-time - but Schalke were unlucky. Almost immediately after Marius Bülter hit the post (56'), Ouwejan caused a hand penalty, which Skov used for a preliminary decision. After that, the guests let the ball and opponents skilfully run.
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