On the 24th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga, Greuther Fürth and Schalke 04 finished their encounter with a 1-1 draw.
Schalke started aggressively, pressuring the hosts from the outset. Soon after the kickoff, new winter‑signing Edin Džeko launched a well‑placed shot to the far corner aimed at Fürth’s goalkeeper Silas Prüfer, and a few moments later he even blocked a clear‑ance from the keeper, though the ball missed the net by a whisker. The blue‑black side retained a dominating posture, but their attacks struggled to find a gap in Fürth’s compact defence.
Fürth’s first tangible chance came in the 12th minute. Branimir Hrgota sent a dangerous cross from the right into the penalty area. Dennis Srbeny beat Nikola Katić, curved around Kevin Müller, and from eight metres he slid the ball past the post to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The goal injected confidence into Fürth. While Schalke controlled more possession, they increasingly found it difficult to break through Fürth’s tight backline. Most of their attacks stalled at the edge of the box, and finishing options were scarce.
After the break Schalke stepped up the pressure. Numerous crosses hit the box, often aimed at Džeko. A potential penalty for a slight shover on Dejan Ljubičić was denied by VAR, as was a Fürth goal in the 67th minute when Srbeny was judged barely offside. The game grew more intense, with frequent minor incidents and several yellow cards issued on both sides.
In the 75th minute, the visiting side truly reaped the rewards. Following a long ball, Džeko captured the ball; Ljubičić struck from roughly 23 m, sending a powerful shot that slammed the ball uncatchable into the right‑hand corner. The resulting strike was a dream goal that secured the well‑earned 1-1 draw for Schalke.
With the point, Schalke upheld its league leadership, though it still falls behind in the promotion race. Fürth, meanwhile, demonstrates that despite its lower position it remains competitive-an essential tally in the survival fight, as the bottom five teams differ by no more than two points.