The VfB coach made two changes to his starting eleven in comparison with the side that won 2-0 in Frankfurt. Georg Niedermeier came in to replace the suspended Matthieu Delpierre, for whom Christian Träsch covered as captain, and Pavel Pogrebnyak returned to fill the gap left up front by the injured Cacau. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors with a free-kick from Jefferson Farfan. The ball fell to the feet of Joel Matip, who shot wide of the mark from just five meters out. Bruno Labbadia’s men had their first sight of goal after 14 minutes. Tamas Hajnal played the ball through to the over-lapping Khalid Boulahrouz, but the Dutch defenders delivery was cleared by Benedikt Höwedes. Hajnal fired the loose ball back on goal but again Höwedes blocked - this time with his hand though. Referee Dr. Felix Brych considered the defenders interception to be intentional and he duly showed the Höwedes the red card and awarded VfB a penalty. Zdravko Kuzmanovic took on the responsibility from the spot and tucked the ball away neatly to make it 1-0. Manuel Neuer did get his finger tips to the ball but the Serbian internationals spot kick was too well placed to be stopped.

As the half wore on, VfB had then bulk of the possession and the clearer chances. Martin Harnik sent Boulahrouz on his way and the Dutchman laid his pass off for Pavel Pogrebnyak, but the Russian strikers effort sailed high over the crossbar. Matip had to be alert soon after to prevent Harnik from increasing the VfB lead, but as it was, the home side took their lead into the break.
 

Ulreich rescues the points
 
The 'Knappen' had the first chance of the second period, with Raul getting a header in from a corner but the Spaniard’s effort proved too high. At the other end, Christian Gentner also then went close with a headed effort. In the 57th minute, Pogrebnyak could have made it 2-0 but was stopped in his tracks by the on-rushing Manuel Neuer. In the 70th minute there was then some further excitement. Christian Gentner drove in a shot from 15 meters out, which bounced up off the keeper, who was then able to gather at the second attempt – on the goal-line! There was another curious scene in the Schalke box with ten minutes to go. Following a corner, several VfB players had a chance to finish from close range but each time, a player in ‘Royal Blue’ managed to clear off the goal-line. Five minutes before the end, Sven Ulreich prevented the equalizer with a stunning save from an Edu header. At the other end, Timo Gebhart was stopped at the edge of the box and Kuzmanovic’s powerful subsequent free-kick zipped narrowly wide.