The Great Escape - An FC Schalke 04 Career Mode

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Farfan scores the first goal for Schalke

Match Week 29: 1. FSV Mainz 05 1 - 2 FC Schalke

May 6, 2015

The pacy wingers of Schalke, Memphis and Farfan, combine to score the two goals that would lift Schalke past bottom of the table Mainz. Castillo would grab a consolation in the 67th minute, but that would be all he wrote for Mainz.

"It's quite sad really," remarked Cocu about Mainz' predicament "I though they were a team that could at least challenge for a spot in the Europa League, but I guess that's football."

Mainz loss means that they inch closer and closer towards relegation to the Bundesliga 2 and Schalke move closer to the Champion's League spots.

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Christian Fuchs scores his first goal of this season to nab Schalke a point

Match Week 30: 1. FC Koln 1 - 1 FC Schalke

May 9,2015

Christian Fuch's first goal of the season proves to be an important one as Schalke avoids defeat with a 1-1 draw. Christian Fuchs scored the free-kick in the 42nd minute and Peszko scored in the 60th to keep it even.

"It's a massive result for them," says a disappointed Sidney Sam "But not for us, we've lost momentum on our side."

Schalke are now in 5th with Wolfsburg overtaking them in 4th place as Schalke are now chasing them down with only four games left.

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Ben Hatira's goal proves to be one that upsets high-flying Schalke

Match Week 31: Hertha BSC 1 - 0 FC Schalke

May 12, 2015

FC Schalke continue to struggle as they fail to get anything in their match against Hertha BSC. Ben Hatira scored a fantastic volley in the first half of the match, while Jefferson Farfan missed a penalty that could have put them level in the second half.

When the media tried to get to Farfan to ask some questions about the missed penalty, captain Benedikt Howedes stepped in and prevented the media from doing so.

"Do I want you talking to him?" Howedes asked aggressively "No. He's had a tough time and we all know it. People make mistakes and so we all move on. Tonight his error may have cost us the Champion's League spot, but do we need to hear more? I don't think so."

"The loss puts us at a precarious position, but we can still do it." says Phillip Cocu "The boys definitely suffered, but I assure you it's onwards and upwards from here on out."

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Match Week 32: FC Schalke 3 - 0 Bayer 04

May 14, 2015

A 28th minute send-off for Bayer's Jedbaj restores hope to the Gelsenkirchen club for the race to top 4. Farfan grabbed an early goal in the 21st minute while Draxler and Memphis added a goal each in the second half of the game.

"It was a much needed result," Cocu agreed after the match "With this win we are now in prime position to take the 4th place spot for our own."

The win puts Schalke in 4th place after Borussia Monchengladbach suffered a loss that sets them back on goal difference.

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Match Week 33: FC Schalke 3 - 0 SC Paderborn

May 16, 2015


FC Schalke take a choke-hold position on 4th place as they get a magnificent 3-0 result at home against SC Paderborn while Borussia Monchengladbach only manage a draw to fall back by two points.

"It's a great win," says Sidney Sam who scored his first goal for Schalke "But we need to keep on going. Only two games left, the Europa League final and the last game of the league."

"We all know of Liverpool's infamous collapse last season," Cocu began "But to borrow some of Gerrard's words, we're not going to slip."

The final games of this season will be on May 22, but Schalke also have a meeting with Wolfsburg for the Europa League final this May 20th.

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Europa League Final: Live Report and Reactions

Welcome to our live report of the Europa League Final between the two German clubs, FC Schalke and VfL Wolfsburg. We'll be covering the match live and reporting some of the reactions.

Here are the reported starting elevens from both sides:

Wolfsburg's lineup brings some disapproval from BILD's twitter account:

Here is an encouraging stat for the Wolfsburg fans out there:

1' - Kickoff starts with Wolfsburg

3' - Misplayed pass turns to Schalke counter-attack, but Xizhe tracks back to retain possession from Hoger

6' - Rodriguez runs down the flank and sends a lofted ball to Gustavo who crosses inside the box, but is blocked by Matip. Corner for Wolfsburg

7' - Corner is sent in, but cleared immediately to Knoche.

10' - Nice passing play by Wolfsburg allows Gustavo some space, and he shoots from 30 yards out, but his shot skies over the goal.

12' - Schalke just cannot hold on to the ball, and another possession play goes to Wolfsburg.

14' - GOAL! Xizhe finds space and allows Zawada some room to run, and the Chinese international sends the ball to an open Zawada who slots past Fahrmann

17' - Schurrle cuts a pass and runs down the flank but gets somewhat caught out

19' - GOAL! Zawada scares the defense with a beautiful shot inside the box, Fahrmann saves it this time, but Luis Gustavo gets to the rebound before anyone could

22' - Wolfburg get a free-kick, but Rodriguez sends it just wide

25' - Chance for Wolfsburg again, Arnold finds a deep cross by Caligiuri, but the header is soft and Fahrmann catches the ball

29' - Schalke starting to attack with purpose, Depay dribbles from his own half all the way to the box, but his shot is off target

33' - Schalke finds space again, this time Draxler finds Huntelaar whose shot is blocked by Gustavo

33' - Farfan's run causes Rodriguez to get a cramp. He seems to be okay and plays on

37' - It's all Schalke at the moment, Huntelaar has nobody marking him thirty yards out, but his shot goes missing

41' - The ball has been in Wolfsburg's half for the majority of this time, but Schalke just cannot penetrate the Wolfsburg defense

45' - Two minutes to be added on

45' + 2 - Half-time and Wolfsburg leads 2-0

Half-Time: Encouraging for Wolfsburg, with the surprising pick of Oskar Zawada proving to be the right choice for Dieter Hecking.


45' - And it's kickoff for Schalke

47' - Schalke keeping possession as they have been in the last bit of first half

50' - GOAL! Jefferson Farfan finds the back of the net after he cuts inside leaving Rodriguez to chase and Felipe could not close in on time.

53' - Wolfsburg begin a counter, but Xizhe's pass is blocked by Matip

56' - Possession goes back and forth till Zawada gets the ball and runs at the defense, but Boateng is alert and he gets the tackle.

58' - KP Boateng has been on his top form today, already with 3 tackles, 2 in this half and Schalke look much better defensively

61' - GOAL! The comeback is nearing it's completion! Depay scares Jung at the flank and passes the ball to an oncoming Hoger, but Hoger lets the ball through and Draxler gets the finish.

62' - Rodriguez comes off the pitch, and Naldo replaces him to reinforce the defense

69' - Sub: Xizhe is replaced by Kevin De Bruyne, while Draxler comes off to make way for Max Meyer

75' - Boateng has been all over the place, with a header and a tackle to keep the Wolfsburg attack at bay

82' - Schalke with some nice play manages to find an open Huntelaar who is just offside

82' - Sub: Wolfsburg's final substitution is Perisic on for Caligiuri while Schalke's best player thus far, Boateng is replaced by Aogo

85' - This time Wolfsburg attack, but Zawada is also found offside

88' - Emotions are running high for Gustavo, he fouls Hoger, and is seen visibly frustrated with the ref's call. No cards are out though

90' - Full time is over, but both teams are still tied at 2-2

90' - First half of extra time is on!

94' - Wolfsburg find another chance, but Aogo prevents it with a blocked

101' - Arnold finds himself alone outside the box, but he shoots it over the bar

105' - Depay finds space and dribbles, but his shot comes up empty

105' - End of first half of extra time

105' - And the last fifteen minutes of extra time begin! Leon Goretzka is brought on for Marco Hoger

107' - Wolfsburg are on all out attack and Schalke barely manage to hang on with a last ditch tackle for Nastasic

113' - It's all Wolfsburg, but the Schalke defense hang on once again after Aogo manages to block a pass headed for an open Zawada

117' - A big chance for Schalke! Meyer goes through on goal and is one on one with Kivrak, Meyer curls the ball to the near post, but Kivrak is alert and saves it

120' - End of extra-time, it all goes to penalties!

1st Pen - Schurrle steps up to take the first penalty...
- GOAL! Right down the middle and Fahrmann went the wrong way
- Farfan to take Schalke's first penalty...
- GOAL! Farfan goes to the left and Kivrak went right.

2nd Pen - De Bruyne is next for Wolfsburg...
- GOAL! De Bruyne shoots top-left corner and Fahrmann had no chance
- Now it's Huntelaar's turns
- GOAL! Huntelaar sends the ball to the right and Kivrak could not even move

3rd Pen - Peresic to take the penalty...
- SAVED! Peresic tries a panenka, but Fahrmann stays standing and watches the ball all the way through to make the save
- Depay to take the shot...
- SAVED! Depay sends the ball to the left, but Kivrak dives the right way and keeps it out!

4th Pen - Zawada is next to take it...
- GOAL! Zawada sends it just under the bar and there was nothing Fahrmann could do about it
- Howedes for Schalke
- GOAL! Kivrak goes the right way, but Howedes sends it to the side netting for the goal

5th Pen - Naldo now to take it...
- GOAL! He hits the post, but it goes in
- Aogo needs to score to keep Schalke alive...
- GOAL! And he does, Kivrak doesn't know what just hit him, but Aogo blasted it past the keeper for the goal

6th Pen - Luis Gustavo...
- GOAL! Fahrmann stays in the middle, but Gustavo slots it in the top-right corner
- Meyer needs to score...
- GOAL! Meyer sends Kivrak the wrong way and scores!

7th Pen - Arnold steps up to take it...
- GOAL! Arnold shoots the right, and Fahrmann cannot make the save
- Goretzka now...
- GOAL! Goretzka stays down the middle while Kivrak dives to the left

8th Pen - Jung now steps up to take a penalty...
- GOAL! Top-right, and Fahrmann has no answers
- Nastasic needs to convert this...
- SAVED! That's it Wolfsburg win! Kivrak guesses well and saves Nastisic's shot!

Heartbreak for Schalke, but Wolfsburg get's the Europa League trophy and the comeback falls short! Wolfsburg still has a chance for a double, with the Deutscher Pokal coming up against Bayern Munich.

Final Score: 2-2 (7-6)

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Youri Tielemans secures FC Schalke's place in next year's Champion's League

Match Week 34: Hamburg SV 1 - 2 FC Schalke

May 22, 2015

FC Schalke will take the last spot in the top four as they beat Hamburg SV 2 -1 away in a crazy match that saw Youri Tielemans play the hero with his 86th minute strike.

FC Schalke reached the Europa League final and finish 4th in the league, but Cocu is adamant about calling the season a "success"

"My first season, I've achieved what I was asked," says Phillip Cocu after the celebrations "But I personally feel as though I didn't do enough."

"Well, I enjoyed my season with Schalke," Tielemans commented afterwards "The decision to stay isn't entirely mine, but it is also to be decided between the two clubs."

Youri Tielemans could possibly leave Gelsenkirchen this season since he is on loan, but with his performance today it is hard to not see him with the club next season.

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Bundesliga 2014-15 Season in Review

Die Roten retains the Bundesliga Shield

FC Bayern Munich are once again the title holders, losing only two matches but drawing an incredibly large number of matches. Could they continue their rampant domination of the Bundesliga? Or will any of the up and coming teams usurp them in the near future?

Stuttgart Rising?

VfB Stuttgart manages to surprise the league by finishing sixth, guaranteeing Europa League. Stuttgart have some of the most promising young guns in the league (Timo Werner, Alexandru Maxim), and some solid vetarans (Ibisevic and Martin Harnik) to create a surprisingly strong squad. Can they continue their ascent or will they fall short next season?

Final Bundesliga Standings 2014-15
TEAM	GP	W	D	L	PTS
FC Bayern Munich (C)	34	22	10	2	76
Bor. Dortmund **	34	21	4	9	67
VfL Wolfsburg **	34	20	6	8	66
FC Schalke 04 **	34	19	8	7	65
Bor. M'gladbach *	34	19	6	9	63
VfB Stuttgart *	34	16	9	9	57
Bayer 04	34	15	9	10	54
Hannover 96	34	13	13	8	52
Eint. Frankfurt	34	11	9	14	42
Hamburger SV	34	9	13	12	40
Hertha BSC	34	10	10	14	40
1899 Hoffenheim	34	9	13	12	39
SC Freiburg	34	9	9	16	36
FC Augsburg	34	8	9	17	33
SC Paderborn	34	9	3	22	30
1. FC Koln (PM)	34	7	8	19	29
Werder Bremen (REL)	34	7	7	20	28
1. FSV Mainz 05 (REL)	34	5	9	20	24
C - Champion, ** - CL Spot, * - Euro Spot
PM - To play promotion match, REL - Relegated

Soccer Leaders - Updated: May 23, 2015
Top Goalscorers		Assist Leaders
1. A. Robben (FCB)	20	1. P. Aubameyang (BVB)	11
2. Raffael (MON)	19	2. M. Reus (BVB)	9
3. P. Aubameyang (BVB)	18	3. A. Schurrle	9
4. S. Kagawa (BVB)	15	4. S. Kießling (BAY)	7
5. T. Muller (FCB)	15	5. T. Muller (FCB)	7