Bundesliga
Schalke striker Simon Terodde was twice denied from the penalty spot, but hosts Wolfsburg failed to take advantage of goalkeeper Koen Casteels' first-half heroics and were forced to settle for a point, despite a much-improved showing after the restart.
Both sides keen to improve on the solitary point they picked up from their opening two Bundesliga games this season, the opening to this Matchday 3 encounter nonetheless proved cagey. The home fans waited patiently until almost the half-hour mark for their Wolves to create the game's first decent chance. Jakub Kaminski's excellent work on the edge of the box was the precursor to Paulo Otavio - back from a serious knee injury - driving a goal-bound effort at the target which Alexander Schwolow kept out with an impressive stop. Schalke were hoping to improve on a dismal away record of eight straight losses on the road in the Bundesliga and they had a superb chance to trouble their hosts when When Micky van de Ven upended Terodde in the Wolfsburg box. Casteels saved the Schalke striker's subsequent spot kick, but was adjudged to have stepped off his line in untimely fashion. A retake was ordered, but Casteels saved again, to the delight of his teammates.
Wolfsburg followed a 2-2 opening day home draw against Werder Bremen with a loss to the champions Bayern Munich. It represented the hosts' worst points return at the start of a campaign for eight years. Coach Niko Kovac's half-time team talk brought more urgency from the men in green, who saw Maxence Lacroix go close with an effort at the far post, before substitute Max Kruse volleyed into the floor and saw his strike caught by Schwolow. The chances continued to fall the way of the 2009 Bundesliga champions thereafter. Josuha Guilavogui stretched to poke home from a set-piece as the half progressed, but his celebrations were cut short after VAR spotted an offside in the move. Ridle Baku then brought one more impressive save from Schwolow with a fizzing effort from the right. Maximilian Philipp subsequently tried his luck with a low shot, but Schwolow and Schalke were not to be beaten.
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Watch: Koen Casteels: "A good reaction"
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Bornauw (Baku 46'), Lacroix, Van de Ven - Kaminski (Paredes 76'), Svanberg (Kruse 59'), Guilavogui, Arnold (c), Otavio - Marmoush, L. (Philipp 59') Nmecha
Unused subs: Pervan, Brekalo, Bialek, F. Nmecha, Franjic
Out: Fischer (calf), Gerhardt (ligament), Wimmer (head), Wind (thigh)
Coach: Niko Kovac
Schalke: Schwolow - Brunner, Yoshida, Thiaw, Ouwejan (Calhanoglu 87') - Krauß (Aydin 87'), Kral, Latza (Flick 46') (c) - Bülter, Terodde (Polter 71'), Zalazar (Larsson 71')
Unused subs: Fährmann, Mollet, Kaminski
Out: Drexler (suspended), Harit (not considered), Sane (match fitness)
Coach: Frank Kramer
Watch: Simon Terodde: "I hold my hands up"