Schalke’s fans were unable to hide their frustration after another abject performance from their side ended in a draw at home to Nurnberg.
Jens Hegeler put the visitors in front against the run of play in the 37th minute and both sides left the field to a chorus of disapproval from the home fans.
Raul earned Schalke a point with his goal in the 52nd minute, but Schalke’s wastefulness prevented them from finding a winner and the fans made their feelings known towards coach Felix Magath at the final whistle.
His future could now hinge on how the Royal Blues fare against Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.
Raul had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute, but Raphael Schafer was alert to deny the Spaniard.
Eight minutes later, Raul had another chance with a header just over the crossbar as the home team made a strong start to the game.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar was the next Royal Blue to get a sight of goal after half an hour, but he also failed to hit the target from close range.
Raul was again denied by Schafer in the 35th minute and the home side were punished for their profligacy two minutes later when Nurnberg went ahead with their first real chance of the game.
Mehmet Ekici’s shot was only parried by Manuel Neuer to the feet of Hegeler, who had the simple task of tapping the ball in.
Nurnberg grew in confidence and ended the half in a crescendo, frustrating the home fans, who jeered their team off at the interval.
Schalke needed just seven minutes of the second half to draw level.
Raul was in the right place at the right time to take advantage of a defensive error by Markus Mendler and shoot into the far corner of Schafer’s goal.
The home team were now regaining the upper hand and Huntelaar and Raul both came close again, but Schafer was in fine fettle to deny them repeatedly.
Just like in the first half, Schalke risked conceding while they were on top of the game when Robert Mak’s shot was tipped over the crossbar by Neuer.
And Nurnberg probably should have stolen all three points in the 82nd minute when Mendler’s header hit the underside of the crossbar before he headed the rebound wide of the goal.
Yet it was another miss from Huntelaar which denied Schalke all three points in the last minute as he was outfoxed by Schafer in a one-on-one situation.
Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com
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