RB Leipzig beats Schalke 2-0 for first away win of the season, Nusa and Romulo score

Leipzig end their away drought

RB Leipzig won 2-0 at FC Schalke 04 on 31 October, ending a run of five consecutive away league defeats and collecting their first Bundesliga away win of the season. The game was played at the Veltins-Arena in front of 61,581 spectators. Schalke have scored only four goals this season, three of them in a single match, and they are still waiting for a first home win and a first home goal since promotion.

RB Leipzig2

Schalke 040

RB Leipzig

2 goals

Schalke 04

0 goals

Data from the article text

A disallowed goal and early chances

Schalke lined up with a back four for the first time this season, a switch the coach partly made because of a shortage of players. Before kickoff, Miron Muslic had said on DAZN:

“We have a top defensive structure.”

The hosts held their shape early on. After three minutes, Timo Becker deflected a free kick from David Raum into his own net, but the goal was ruled out because Willi Orban had been offside. Mertcan Ayhan picked out Junior Adamu with a clever lob in the tenth minute, but Maarten Vandevoordt stopped the finish. Loris Karius then parried a shot from Antonio Nusa before Romulo headed over the bar in the 15th minute.

Penalty before the break

In the 37th minute, Satoshi Tanaka tried to clear a ball in his own penalty area, overlooked Romulo charging in and struck the Leipzig player instead. Referee Max Burda immediately pointed to the spot. Nusa sent the penalty into the left corner despite whistles from the Schalke supporters. Leipzig kept pressing before halftime, and Romulo pushed a rebound in during stoppage time, but VAR ruled the goal out because the ball had already crossed the goal line earlier in the move.

Second half and Romulo's goal

Leipzig began the second half quickly, and a right-foot shot from Ezechiel Banzuzi went just wide of the left post. Karius had already produced a strong save against Banzuzi in a one-on-one. Schalke could not keep their defensive shape, and in the 78th minute Tidiam Gomis found Nusa on a counter-attack. Nusa crossed for Romulo, who scored his first away goal since April and sealed the win. The result also gave Leipzig their first away points since April.

What comes next for Schalke

Miron Muslic's side now have to improve their position in the table. The pressure on the players and the coach is growing. Their next big match, the Klassiker, is approaching. Schalke need to find quick solutions after a result that leaves them searching for their first goal and first win at home this season.