The Great Escape - An FC Schalke 04 Career Mode

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Round of 32 1st Leg: Torino 0 - 3 FC Schalke

Feb. 19, 2015

FC Schalke claim a huge advantage after scoring three goals in Turin, which turned a terrible night into a living nightmare for Torino fans. In-form striker Huntelaar opened the scoring in the 11th minute, marking his third goal in three games. Memphis Depay successfully forced three yellow cards out of the Torino defense, which was constantly troubled by his presence. Draxler added the second in the 52nd second, with a beautiful finish to the far post. It was all done and dusted in the 90th minute, when Joel Matip was fouled on a corner, resulting in penalty kick that was converted by Jefferson Farfan.

"It was a great performance, we expect more of the same moving forward." said an ecstatic Phillip Cocu with his European debut for Schalke.

The next leg will be played on Feb. 26,2015 at the Veltins Arena

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Re: The Great Escape - An FC Schalke 04 Career Mode

Thanks, well I actually am having good results, but World Class difficulty after not playing FIFA for a while is extremely hard. It's like they would never let me win by more than one goal and when I lose it's normally 4-1 (Not a CM result though) or something like that. I decided to get Depay because Huntelaar felt a little sluggish early on, but he's starting to get goals so.

Looks like I spoke a little too soon...

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Matija Nastasic and Memphis Depay both bagged their first goals for Schalke

Match Week 22: FC Schalke 3 - 0 Werder Bremen

Feb. 22, 2016

Another three points go Schalke's way, continuing Phillip Cocu's unbeaten record with 5 wins in 6 matches. Matija Nastasic scored his first goal for the club in the 9th minute, giving Schalke the 1-0 lead. Eric Choupo-Moting doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, which put his tally at 7 Bundesliga goals for this season. Memphis Depay would get the third goal 11 minutes later and seal the game for Schalke.

Schalke's recent form has been cause for fans to celebrate. There have been numerous reports that the board and fans have been displeased despite the recent success, to the point that there were suggestions of Cocu's dismissal.

"I think it's utterly disgusting," says one of the fans "Cocu's done a superb job since he's been here. The team has been unbeaten in all his matches, quite a feat really."

"We're behind the boss 100% of the way," Howedes remarked when inquired by the press "He's the right man to lead us all the way."

Schalke's victory places them at third at the moment, 4 points away from second place Wolfsburg. But Schalke is also 3 points away from 9th place Stuttgart, making the race for the Champion's League places even more tense. Meanwhile, Werder Bremen remain in 17th, which would mean relegation.

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Round of 32 2nd Leg: FC Schalke 0 - 2 Torino FC

Feb.26, 2015

FC Schalke will move on to the next round of the Europa League, after Torino fails to complete the comeback at the Veltins Arena. Bruno Peres opened the scoring for Torino FC, using his pace to overpower Nastasic and Matip before slamming the ball into the net. Howedes would later foul Fabio Quagliarella in the box leading to 28th minute penalty kick for Torino. Quagliarella would convert the penalty kick, but Torino FC failed to score the decisive third that could have sent the match to penalties.

"It's tough," remarked Torino's Moretti "We failed to keep them out when we were at home, and the pressure was just too much to handle afterwards."

"We're definitely unhappy," says Julian Draxler after Schalke's loss "We're very sorry for the fans who came out to support us at home, it was an extremely poor performance."

The loss marks Cocu's first in his management of Schalke, but for now they survive and move on into the round of sixteen.

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Bundesliga Standings (As of Mar.1, 2015)
TEAM	GP	W	D	L	PTS
FC Bayern Munich **	23	14	7	2	49
VfL Wolfsburg **	22	13	4	5	43
Bayer 04 **	23	12	5	6	41
FC Schalke 04 **	22	11	6	5	39
Hannover 96 *	23	10	9	4	39
VfB Stuttgart *	23	10	8	5	38
Bor. M'gladbach	22	11	4	7	37
Bor. Dortmund	22	11	4	7	37
Eint. Frankfurt	23	10	6	7	36
Hamburger SV	23	8	6	9	30
1899 Hoffenheim	22	8	5	9	29
Hertha BSC	23	6	7	10	25
SC Paderborn	22	7	1	14	22
SC Freiburg	23	5	6	12	21
1. FSV Mainz 05	22	4	7	11	19
FC Augsburg	23	4	7	12	19
Werder Bremen	22	4	6	12	18
1. FC Koln	23	4	4	15	16
** - Champions League
* - Europa League

Soccer Leaders - Updated: Mar 1, 2015
Top Goalscorers		Assist Leaders
1. Robben (FCB)	13	1. Schurlle (WOF)	9
2. Raffael (MON)	13	2. Lahm (FCB)	6
3. Kießling (BAY)	12	3. Olic (HSV)	6
4. Aubameyang (BVB)	11	4. Reus (BVB)	6
5. T. Muller (FCB)	11	5. Okazaki (MAI)	6

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Match Winner: Sahin's last minute goal gives Dortmund all three points in Signal Iduna Park

Match Week 23: Bor. Dortmund 3 - 2 FC Schalke

Mar. 3, 2015

Nuri Sahin's goal at the last gasp gave Borussia Dortmund the victory over their rivals FC Schalke. The most recent Revierderby result means that both teams have lost one and won one against each other.

In the 4th minute of the match, a controversial penalty was given against Schalke when Nastasic was called for kicking Aubameyang in the box, when replays show that the ball was the one hit instead. Reus would convert the penalty to give Dortmund the lead. In the 12th minute, Klass-Jan Huntelaar would equalise the score. And that would be the case till the 34th minute when Nastasic would make another defensive error which Aubameyang pounced on and scored 1 on 1 against Fahrmann. Huntelaar would give Schalke their second in the 76th minute after a corner kick landed to him and he smashed the ball past the keeper after beating two defenders. It looked like it was going to be a draw, till Nuri Sahin got the ball off a cleared cross and smashed it home.

The loss marks the second consecutive in all competitions for Schalke.

"We really shouldn't have lost," says Cocu "I think the penalty call shouldn't have gone against us, but it's all done and there's nothing we can do anymore."

The win meant Dortmund would overtake Schalke for the fifth place spot, and Schalke will fall to sixth.

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Goretzka celebrates a goal as Schalke bounce back with a win in the Veltins Arena

Match Week 24: FC Schalke 3 - 1 1899 Hoffenheim

Mar. 7, 2015

FC Schalke finally get a win after 2 straight losses in all competitions. Schalke dominated the entire game, especially in the first half where Eric Choupo-Moting and Max Meyer grab two goals for the Royal Blues. Former Schalke player Adam Szalai would grab a consolation in the 75th minute, but Leon Goretzka would cancel that with a goal in the 87th minute.

"It's quite a relief to finally get a win again." says Phillip Cocu amid the speculations that the club board has been threatning the manager for better results.

"We really needed that to get on track before our Europa League game," says Dennis Aogo who captained the side today "We want to win all the silverware that's still up for grabs. The Europa League is the likeliest one that we can win."

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FC Schalke draw Inter Milan for Round of 16 matchup

FC Schalke will travel to Italy for the 1st leg of the match on March 13, and they will travel back to Germany for the 2nd leg which is to happen on March 20

"We look forward to the challenge," Benedikt Howedes told the press "Italian clubs are known for their great defense, but our side has an incredible attacking talent. It should be interesting."

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Round of 16 1st Leg: Inter Milan 2 - 3 FC Schalke

Mar. 13,2015

FC Schalke grab the advantage ahead of the second leg after scoring three goals against Inter Milan. Rodrigo Palacio put the Italian side ahead early in the match, but Julian Draxler would level the scores two minutes later with a sublime far post volley. Memphis Depay would grab a second just before a half-time, after a corner kick was headed past Samir Handanovic. Klass-Jan Huntelaar sealed the game in the 78th minute with a poacher's goal. Xherdan Shaquiri would give Inter Milan a fighting chance however, after dribbling past the Schalke defense all and converting against Fahrmann.

"We got a much needed performance away, now we just have to seal it at home." said MotM Jefferson Farfan

Farfan was the one who directly assisted all three of Schalke's goals and has been rejuvenated under Cocu's management.

"He's a great manager," replied the Peruvian winger "He makes you want to work the hardest and keep fighting for your place in the starting line-up."

The second leg of the match will be held at the Veltins Arena a week from now.

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Round of 16 2nd Leg: FC Schalke 0 - 1 Inter Milan

Mar. 20,2015

FC Schalke move on to the quarterfinals of the Europa League, but once again struggled to prevent a loss at home. Mauro Icardi scored the only goal in the 57th minute, but it wasn't enough as Schalke parked the bus the entire game.

"In hindsight, we probably shouldn't have focused on defending." said Joel Matip

"It wasn't a good performance today, but the important thing is that we're through and we're moving on." says Phillip Cocu after the match.

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Europa League draw: FC Schalke to face Beşiktaş J.K. in quarterfinals

FC Schalke's first two matches in April will be against Turkish side Beşiktaş, with the first match being held there on April 2nd, and the second match will be the home leg for FC Schalke on April 9th.

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Bundesliga Standings (As of Apr.1, 2015)
TEAM	GP	W	D	L	PTS
FC Bayern Munich **	25	15	8	2	53
Bor. Dortmund **	26	15	4	7	49
Bor. M'gladbach **	25	14	4	7	46
VfB Stuttgart **	26	12	8	6	44
VfL Wolfsburg *	24	13	4	7	43
FC Schalke 04 *	24	12	6	6	42
Bayer 04	25	12	5	8	41
Hannover 96	26	10	10	6	40
Eint. Frankfurt	26	11	6	9	39
Hamburger SV	26	8	8	10	32
1899 Hoffenheim	26	8	8	10	32
Hertha BSC	25	7	8	10	29
SC Freiburg	25	7	6	12	27
SC Paderborn	26	8	2	16	26
FC Augsburg	26	6	7	13	25
1. FC Koln	26	6	4	16	22
Werder Bremen	26	5	6	15	21
1. FSV Mainz 05	25	4	8	13	20
** - Champions League
* - Europa League

Soccer Leaders - Updated: Apr 1, 2015
Top Goalscorers		Assist Leaders
1. A. Robben (FCB)	14	1. A. Schurrle (WOL)	9
2. Raffael (MON)	13	2. M. Reus (BVB)	7
3. P. Aubameyang (BVB)	13	3. P. Aubameyang (BVB)	7
4. S. Kießling (BAY)	12	4. P. Lahm (FCB)	6
5. S. Kalou (HER)	11	5. I. Olic (HSV)	6

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Quarter-finals 1st Leg: Beşiktaş J.K. 0 - 1 FC Schalke

Apr. 2,2015

FC Schalke get their 3rd straight away win in the Europa League after Klass-Jan Huntelaar grabs his 14th goal of the season to give Schalke the only goal of the game.

"At the moment, KJ is probably part of the top three pure strikers in the game." says fellow countryman Memphis Depay

"His form is extremely difficult to ignore," replied Phillip Cocu after being asked about the striker "If we base everything on form, he's the number one striker in the world."

Schalke will return to their home at the Veltins Arena, looking to grab their first home win in the Europa League.

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Quarter-finals 2nd Leg: FC Schalke 2 - 1 Beşiktaş J.K.

Apr. 9,2015

FC Schalke secure a spot in the semi-finals, after beating Besiktas to win 3-1 on aggregate. The win also marked their first home win in the Europa League, thanks to a 74th minute winner from Max Meyer.

Schalke's defense looked shaky early on, but they would only concede later at the end of the first-half with a headed goal from Özyakup. Eric Choupo-Moting would put Gelsenkirchen club level in the 57th minute, but it would ultimately be decided when Günay Güvenç gave away the ball straight to Max Meyer who would tap in the empty goal to seal the series.

"We're really relieved," says Sidney Sam "After they led, we thought it was going to be another home loss for us, but we eventually pulled through."

"We know it's not going to get any easier, but we're ready for whoever comes next." said a determined Phillip Cocu who's side has now played 4 straight Europa League games.

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Report: Kolasnic refuses to sign new €50,000 per week contract

Inside sources report that Kolasnic has refused to sign a new contract with Schalke that will bump his wages to €50,000 per week. Sources say that the Bosnian full back still has concerns about the club's stability and ability to remain competitive and therefore refuses to commit. There has been no official comment from the Gelsenkirchen club or from the player and his agent, but the news is certainly not a welcome sign for Phillip Cocu who highly regards Kolasnic as integral to his plans.