Result: Hertha Berlin 0-0 Schalke
Date: 31 January 2020
Venue: Olympiastadion Berlin
Schalke's top-four aspirations suffered a knock after dropping points at Hertha Berlin in Friday's only Bundesliga encounter at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
Hertha manager Jurgen Klinsmann resisted the temptation to start new signing Krzysztof Piatek, as the Polish striker was named on the bench while centre-back Dedryck Boyata returned from suspension.
On the other side, the Royal Blues were boosted by the return from suspension of goalkeeper Alexander Nubel, the recovery from injury of Weston McKennie while Benito Raman recovered from flu to start.
The sides were cautious in the early stages as the game's first chance fell to Michel Gregoritsch in the 20th minute after he unleashed a low pile-driver that was saved by Hertha goalkeeper Rune Jarstein.
Bastian Oczipka almost broke the deadlock for Schalke four minutes before the break with a strike from outside the box but Jarstein was on hand to make the save, while the Norwegian shot-stopper did well to keep out McKennie's screamer from outside the box minutes later.
David Wagner's charges started the second stanza strongly and they nearly found the breakthrough just before the hour-mark with Raman's goal-bound strike from a tight angle but Jarstein came to Hertha's rescue once again.
Klinsmann finally introduced Piatek in the 63rd minute in place of Marius Wolf while Wagner responded with a change in midfield as Arne Maier came on for Marko Grujic moments later.
Piatek had a chance to make an instant impact ten minutes later after Dodi Lukebakio delivered a cross into the box from a corner but the Polish striker's header sailed over the bar.
The visitors were carving out chances in the closing phase but they could not find the finishing touches as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils, leaving Schalke sixth spot.
