Schalke 04 1 - 1 Hamburger: Schalke draw sees Hamburg's relegation battle go into final weekend

Posted Sunday, May 14, 2017 by PA

Hamburg's slump towards a first-ever relegation from the Bundesliga continued despite securing a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Schalke on Saturday.

Die Rothosen have not been demoted from the German top flight since the Bundesliga's inception in 1963 but they head into the final weekend of the season in the relegation play-off zone - although they now cannot be caught by 17th-placed Ingolstadt.

Guido Burgstaller's first-half goal for Schalke had left them all-but guaranteed to finish 16th but Pierre-Michel Lasogga's equaliser in added time gives them hope of catching either Mainz, Augsburg or Wolfsburg - who they face on the final day.

Schalke started slightly quicker but failed to turn their dominant possession into clear chances before Burgstaller headed the hosts in front.

The former Nurnberg striker converted Nabil Bentaleb's cross to score his ninth Bundesliga goal since moving to Gelsenkirchen in January.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar, playing his last game at Veltins-Arena before leaving Schalke, then hit the post as Markus Weinzierl's side went in search of a second.

Hamburg rallied after the break and could have equalised on 75 minutes had Ralf Fahrmann not been at his best to deny Luca Waldschmidt at his near post.

Lewis Holtby then tried his luck for the visitors after a neat Matthias Ostrzolek pass but his effort flew over the bar.

Bobby Wood also came close as the game drew to a close but Hamburg eventually found a way through courtesy of Lasogga in the dying seconds.

There was still time for Sead Kolasinac to find the net for Schalke but it was ruled out and the battle to avoid the drop goes down to the final weekend for Hamburg.