- Magdeburg experiences a absence in their match against Schalke
1. FC Magdeburg failed to secure their initial home victory versus Schalke 04, ending in a 2:2 draw (2:1) in front of 27,146 spectators on a Sunday afternoon. Goals from Marcus Mathisen (39') and Martijn Kaars (45+2) were netted by FCM, while Moussa Sylla (8') and Kenan Karaman (76') replied for the visitors. Magdeburg maintains an unbeaten streak in the league, holding the 7th position with 5 points.
Coach Christain Titz of FCM made two substitutions following the team's 1:2 DFB-Pokal loss in Offenbach. Connor Krempicki and Xavier Amaechi replaced Livan Burcu and Bryan Teixeira (both absent from the squad). FCM began with intensity, but sloppy possession by Krempicki led to a disorganized defense, allowing Sylla to score a stunning lob, giving the visitors the lead. FCM battled turnovers, and Schalke took advantage.
Mathisen scores from a tight spot
As Schalke retreated, FCM had their first opportunity through Krempicki (21'), but he opted to pass instead of shooting. Danger primarily stemmed from set pieces, with Schalke goalkeeper Justin Heekeren making a few blunders. FCM leveled the score following a poor clearance from a corner - Mathisen scored from a tight angle. FCM pushed forward - after a crisp cross from Lubambo Musonda, Kaars scored, and Mehmet Aydin's effort came too late.
In the second half, Schalke pressured more aggressively and early on, but FCM managed to break free more effectively. Tatsuya Ito, a substitute, injected more control into the attack. Schalke struggled to break away, but FCM's pressure contained a flaw: despite a slew of chances, they failed to score. After 60 minutes, Schalke improved and became a threat from set pieces. After a corner, Karaman headed past goalkeeper Dominik Reimann to establish a 2:2 draw. The last ten minutes saw heightened excitement as Andi Hoti hit the deck in the box. After a VAR review, referee Timo Gerach revoked the penalty.**
Other substitutes could have been considered by Coach Titz, aiming to change the game's dynamics. Despite Mathisen's goal, FC Magdeburg missed several chances to secure a win and move up the table, relying too heavily on set pieces.
