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The Schalke 04 pros once again had reason to celebrate in Ingolstadt
Photo: IMAGO/Tim Rehbein/RHR-FOTO / IMAGO/RHR-Foto
Mike Büskens' debut as Schalke coach was successful, although the new coach of the Bundesliga relegated team wasn't even on the sidelines.
The successful streak of 1. FC Nürnberg continues.
And: Jahn Regensburg is no longer in free fall, but gives up a win in Karlsruhe.
In game one after Dimitrios Grammozis, FC Schalke 04 celebrated a clear away win at bottom-placed Ingolstadt.
Interim coach Büskens was still missing on the sidelines at 3-0 (0-0): The coach had not been able to test himself in time after a corona infection.
Assistant coach Matthias Kreutzer saw a first half full of unimaginative half-field crosses, the most dangerous striker Simon Terodde headed to the crossbar (11th minute).
S04 then became really dangerous (and successful) after the change of sides, when the difference in quality between relegated and promoted became increasingly clear: Substitute Rodrigo Zalazar followed up after a Terodde shot was blocked and scored with a deflected attempt to take the lead (51.), Malick Thiaw increased after a corner, also with a bit of luck in the end (71st).
Dominick Drexler then made everything clear from close range (81st).
In the table, Schalke have moved closer to the top trio of Darmstadt, St. Pauli and Bremen, who were completely winless that day: With 44 points, the Royal Blues are four points behind the top three, who are tied on points.
Hamburger SV can catch up to Schalke with a win in the catch-up game against Erzgebirge Aue.
The second big winner in the battle for promotion comes from Franconia: With their fourth win in a row, 1. FC Nürnberg is one point ahead of Schalke and within striking distance of the promotion ranks.
In Hanover, Nuremberg celebrated an unchallenged 3-0 (1-0) victory.
The Hanoverians practically put the guest lead on themselves: After a counterattack by Nuremberg, 96 gave the ball back, Fabian Nürnberger put through for Lukas Schleimer, who scored his first second division goal (26th).
His second was only in the way of a header shortly before the break (40th), the German U-national players Tom Krauss (83rd) and Erik Shuranov (87th) decided the game in the final phase.
In the midfield of the league, Regensburg has avoided at least one more bankruptcy after four defeats in a row: At Karlsruher SC, Jahn scored a 1-1 (0-1).
Jan-Niklas Beste took the lead: The loanee from SV Werder Bremen received a long ball from Max Besuschkow and overran KSC keeper Marius Gersbeck (31st).
Karlsruhe's counter-offensive only began in the second half, but Marvin Wanitzek only got one goal whistle-off due to a previous handball (49'), before Jahn goalkeeper Alexander Meyer deflected a free-kick to the crossbar (57').
Instead, center forward Philipp Hofmann scored the goal for Karlsruhe with a header (70').
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