I’m tuning in for this! I don’t know what’s more shocking Haji making his debut or starting before Sargent. Either way, a pleasant surprise. I hope he takes full advantage of this opportunity
Heh...it took me these first 4 minutes to realize Schalke are in green, not blue. Must be more hungover than I thought...
Hoffenheim dominating the opening minutes, culminating with a curled shot off the bar. Schalke had a penalty claim (not Wright) turned down.
Burgstaller should have scored or passed to Haji, but he was offside anyway. Fun game so far. It's rare to say that for a Schalke match.
I don't think Haji has gotten a touch yet, has he? Schalke in general seems to be getting into the game a little now.
Through 14 minutes, no, I don't think so. It looks like his job is basically to get on the end of hopeful crosses. EDIT: First touch! At 14:35, and he immediately turned it over.
Other than a header off of a throw in in the first couple of minutes, he's not had the ball played to his feet once.
17:30: commits a foul with a jersey tug before launching into a terrific slide tackle around midfield. Weak call IMO
Burgstaller has twice not passed up teammates in better positions to score in the box, in favor of a weak effort. The kind of guy you don't want on your team.
Haji is making those back post runs. He’s doing the Wright thing. They just need to see him and he needs to demand that ball.
21:45: good ball to Wright, putting him throughish on goal, but an overly soft first touch and a heavy second touch leads to a turnover.
Yeah, as a young attacking player coming into a struggling team, they really need spark and energy from him. Bentaleb and Burgstaller have seemed by far the most lively attackers for Schalke (even if Burgstaller has bungled some good chances). Honestly, if he keeps going like this, I'd say Haji is a good candidate to get subbed at the half or at 60'.
Ball played across to Wright forces a handball and a penalty for Schalke. Bentaleb to take; should be Wright. And a VAR review...overturned.