Hat-trick hero Hennings earns Fortuna a point at Schalke

Schalke 3-3 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Caligiuri (33'), 1-1 Hennings (62'), 2-1 Kabak (67'), 2-2 Hennings (73'), 3-2 Serdar (79'), 3-3 Hennings (85')

With only one defeat in their past eight Bundesliga fixtures, confidence was in no short supply for Schalke, who were looking to push on from a 3-2 win at Augsburg and burst into the top three. Fortuna had picked up plenty of confidence from their derby win over Cologne, though, and both sides cancelled each other out for much of the first half. Benito Raman went close to putting Schalke in front when he beat Düsseldorf's USA goalkeeper Zack Steffen, but Jean Zimmer came to the rescue to clear off the line. Raman sent his next chance wide before setting up Daniel Caligiuri to complete a quick counter attack and put the hosts in front with a stylish finish.

Amine Harit almost doubled Schalke's lead early in the second half, but his volley struck the crossbar. Fortuna were then given a route back into the game when VAR was consulted by referee Robert Hartmann to award a penalty, after Weston McKennie handled the ball inside the area. Hennings sent Alexander Nübel the wrong way from the spot and brought Friedhelm Funkel's men level. Their joy was short lived, though. Less than five minutes later, Bastian Oczipka sent in a corner which Ozan Kabak met to head the hosts back in front. The Royal Blues' lead lasted a mere ten minutes this time before Hennings completed his second career Bundesliga brace, powering his unstoppable shot past Nübel and under the crossbar. After squandering the lead twice already, Schalke would try a third time to hold onto the three points when Suat Serdar's effort took a deflection off Kasim Adams to beat Steffen, but they failed yet again when Hennings completed his first Bundesliga hat-trick with a delightful lob to earn Fortuna a point.

• With nine goals, Hennings has set a new personal single-season scoring record in the Bundesliga.
• Hennings scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick, although he did score three in a Bundesliga 2 fixture against 1860 Munich in April 2014.
• Raman delivered his first assist of the season.
• Caligiuri scored his first goal of the campaign, and his first since netting a brace in the Revierderby last April.
• Alessandro Schöpf made only his second start of the season
• Fortuna have lost just one of their last six Bundesliga visits to Gelsenkirchen.

Watch: Hennings: "Hugely important to get a point"

Schalke: Nübel (c) – Kenny, Kabak, McKennie, Oczipka – Caligiuri, Mascarell, Serdar, Schöpf (Uth 75')– Harit – Raman (Matondo 70')
Unused subs: Schubert, Kutucu, Boujellab, Burgstaller, Reese, Becker, Mercan
Out: Bentaleb (knee), Miranda (ankle), Nastastic (Achilles tendon), Sane (knee), Stambouli (metatarsal)
Coach: David Wagner

Düsseldorf: Steffen – Zimmer (Thommy 71'), Ayhan, Adams, Hoffmann, Gießelmann – Bodzek (c) (Fink 75') – Morales (Sobottka 90+2'), Zimmermann – Kownacki, Hennings
Unused subs: Kastenmeier, Contento, Ampomah, Suttner, Baker, Tekpetey
Out: Barkok (match fitness), Karaman (pneumonia), Pledl (knee), Stöger (match fitness)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel

Watch: Kenny: "We're all in it together"