Schalke loses 1-2 at Hoffenheim as Karius error and Gosens collision leave two players hurt

Karius error sets up the defeat

On Sunday, 8 November 2026, Schalke 04 lost 1-2 at TSG Hoffenheim in Sinsheim in the ninth Bundesliga matchday, leaving the promoted side second from bottom with six points. Loris Karius gave the hosts the opening goal in the 10th minute by playing a pass straight to Fisnik Asllani's foot, and the striker chipped the ball over him. Tim Lemperle doubled the lead in the 26th minute before the break. Junior Adamu pulled one back in the 81st minute, the first goal by a Schalke striker this season and the end of 500 minutes without a goal from the club's forwards. The 28,369 spectators included around 10,000 travelling Schalke fans.

Collision and injuries

Shortly after the restart, Karius saved a shot from Asllani in the 47th minute, then collided with defender Robin Gosens while going for the rebound. Gosens's studs struck the keeper's face, and Karius needed lengthy treatment before Kevin Müller came on in goal. Gosens left the pitch held up by two teammates, with a knee bandage, and coach Miron Muslic said the picture looked bad and that a serious knee injury was feared. Muslic described cuts and grazes on Karius and said he hoped the keeper's injury would not be as serious as Gosens's. Both players were due to be examined after returning to Gelsenkirchen. Gosens had only just come back from a head-to-head clash with teammate Soufiane El-Faouzi in Cologne in late October, and he had been wearing a black bandage when he returned.

Coach and captain react

Miron Muslic spoke after the final whistle about the run of bad luck.

“We have to fight against brutal resistance at the moment, but that feels like Schalke. We will grow from it.”

Muslic also said the next weeks would not be easy, because the club cannot duplicate players, and he said he could hardly recall a mistake from Karius in the past 16 months. Captain Kenan Karaman voiced the frustration of the squad over the injury list.

“It hurts us enormously, all the injured players, and now Loris and Robin are out again.”

In the days before the match, sporting director Frank Baumann had promised Muslic there would be no debate about the coach in the coming weeks and months. Muslic said himself that he did not feel untouchable.

Squad shortages and the table

Schalke were without Janik Bachmann, Adrian Gantenbein, Emil Höjlund, Ron Schallenberg, Moussa Sylla and Maximilian Wöber, and defender Timo Becker was also on the injury list with a foot problem. Hoffenheim, who climbed to ninth after three winless matches, missed Nathan de Cat, Valentin Gendrey, Albian Hajdari, Robin Hranac and Patrick Wimmer. Reports give Schalke's winless run as six or seven games, and the club enters the international break on six points. Karius and Gosens will remain unavailable until the examinations confirm the extent of their injuries.