Union go level with Bayern despite Schalke draw

Union 0-0 Schalke

Bayern's 3-2 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach opened the door for Union to return to the summit ahead of next week's top-two clash in Munich. Urs Fischer's side started brightly enough as Christopher Trimmel warmed the palms of Ralf Fährmann with a looping header, but clear-cut chances were few and far between. The only one of note fell to Danilho Doekhi, who forced Fährmann into a flying save following a corner. Schalke barely threatened as an attacking unit, but the defensive grit that underpinned three successive goalless draws going into the game had them deservedly level at the break.

Roles were reversed to some extent after the restart, with the bottom team, rather than the side looking to go top, asking more of the questions. Union survived a couple of teasing crosses into the box, before Michael Frey dragged wide and shot into the side netting in quick succession. Fischer tried to rederess the balance by introducing seven-goal top scorer Sheraldo Becker and US international Jordan. The move almost paid off when Becker swung in an inviting cross for Jordan, who headed off target under pressure from Maya Yoshida. That was the closest thing to a winner as Union were made to settle for a point.

• Union are level on points with Bayern, but have a goal difference of +11, compared to the record champions' +40.
• Given their vastly inferior goal difference (-27), Schalke are effectively seven points adrift of safety, with 13 rounds of fixtures remaining.
• Becker has gone six Bundesliga games without scoring.
• Schalke are the lowest scorers in this season's Bundesliga (14).
• The Royal Blues are an unwanted Bundesliga record 38 away matches without a win, but have set a record for concecutive 0-0 draws (four).
• With Fährmann reinstated between the posts, Schalke have kept four consecutive Bundesliga clean sheets for the first time since 2017/18 (five). He was also in goal for the club back then.

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Union: Ronnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Baumgartl - Trimmel (c), Laidouni (Seguin 66'), Khedira, Haberer (Thorsby 81'), Gießelmann (Roussillon 81') - Michel (Becker 58'), Behrens (Jordan 65')
Unused subs: Grill, Jaeckel, Juranovic, Leweling
Out: Busk (ill), Schäfer (knock)
Coach: Urs Fischer

Schalke: Fährmann - Brunner (Can Aydin 90'+1), Yoshida (c), Jenz, Uronen (Ouwejan 36') - Kral, Krauß - Drexler, Zalazar (Terodde 79'), Bülter - Frey (Karaman 79')
Unused subs: Schwolow, Greiml, Matriciani, Balanta
Out: Heekeren (cruciate ligament), Kaminski (match fitness), Latza (knee), Polter (knee), Skarke (foot), Tauer (match fitness), van den Berg (ankle)
Coach: Thomas Reis