Result: Schalke 2-1 Union Berlin
Date: 29 November 2019
Venue: Veltins-Arena
Schalke climbed to second spot in the Bundesliga after defeating Union Berlin 2-1 at the Veltins-Arena on Friday evening.
Chasing a top-four spot, the home side were without Nassim Boujellab, Alessandro Schopf, Benjamin Stambouli, Steven Skrzybski, and Mark Uth through various injury layoffs.
The two sides had met only once before which came in the 2001 DFB-Pokal Final that the Royal Blues bagged, but the latter looked to use their unbeaten run in the last five matches to good effect.
As such authority was stamped inside the 23rd minute when Benito Raman lashed home a rocket of a strike following a delivery from Bastian Oczipka.
A forced change two minutes later brought an end to Keven Schlotterbeck's time as he hobbled off with a knock and was replaced by Florian Hubner.
Berlin didn't stop probing four minutes later despite the aforementioned setback, but were met with a resistant Nubel who sensationally pushed Andersson's header for a corner.
The visitors waited exactly nine minutes before halftime to drew level which came through the penalty spot as Marcus Ingvartsen rifled high into the roof of the net.
Contrasting league positions with Berlin 12 points from safety and the hosts hovering near the top signalled a mismatch on many levels but the visitors put Schalke to their paces.
Schalke, who had more shots on target in the opening half, were slow into advancing areas as their every probable move broke down near or at the final hurdle.
The Royal Blues regained control of the contrast inside the final four minutes when Suat Serdar finished off exquisitely following a telling assists from Amine Harit to secure three points.
