Schalke 04 travelled to Borussia Monchengladbach knowing that a win would keep them in the driving seat for fourth place in the Bundesliga.
In a first half of very few chances it was Gladbach who came closest when Peniel Mlapa squandered a chance when well placed in the box.
The second half was a more open affair and it was Schalke who eventually took the points with just over five minutes left, with Julian Draxler combining with Raffael on the edge of the box and firing in low.
Gladbach were unable to create that chance they needed to equalise and are now unable to finish in the top four this season.
Read how the action unfolded below with our live text commentary.
Hello everyone and thanks for joining me for tonight's Bundesliga. We have Monchengladbach against Schalke in what promises to be an attacking game of football.
Before I delve into the nitty-gritty, I have the team news in and ready to share.
GLADBACH XI: Ter Stegen; Jantschke, Stranzl, Dominguez, Daems; Marx, Xhaka; Herrmann, Arango; Hanke, Mlapa
SCHALKE XI: Hildebrand; Uchida, Howedes, Matip, Kolasinac; Neustsdter, Jones ; Bastos, Raffael, Draxler; Huntelaar
So the good news there for Schalke fans is that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar returns to the lineup. A couple of different injuries have - a blood clot on his eye and more recently knee ligament damage - has kept him out of most of the second half of the season. However, it seems that he is back ready for the run-in.
With the Dutchman it does look a very strong Schalke lineup indeed. Behind the striker is the very dangerous trio of Michel Bastos, Raffael and Julian Draxler are sure to keep the home defence very busy tonight.
For Gladbach it's two up top instead of the one striker that is so frequently used up and down the Bundesliga. Mike Hanke is handed a rare start and he is joined by Peniel Mlapa in a combination of brawn and pace up front.
Granit Xhaka's continued presence in the midfield means that Havard Nordtveid is still not ready to start following the nasty looking broken nose he picked up a few weeks ago. Patrick Herrmann has been out of form for a couple of weeks now, but the hosts will need him to pick up if they are to take something out of this one.
The win tonight is vital for both teams, so this is far from an end-of-season game. For Gladbach, they can temporarily move into fifth with the three points and would be just two points behind their visitors. A win for Schalke and they would be firmly in the driving seat for that final qualification spot for the Champions League.
With five minutes until kickoff, we've got time to check the odds. Schalke have been made the favourites this evening and are available at about evens. If you fancy the hosts or a draw, they are both available at 12/5.
PREDICTION: It's that time again for me to stick my neck on the line. In my opinion there's only one winner here, and that's Schalke. Certainly the odds on a home victory aren't good enough to tempt me. I think we're looking at a 2-0 away win.
The players are out and we're nearly ready for kickoff.
KICKOFF: Gladbach get us underway. Here's hoping for lots of goals tonight!
It's a bright start from Mlapa, as he closes down Timo Hildebrand who had dallied with the ball a little. The striker gets a touch on the clearance but can't quite get control of the ball. That's sluggish from the Schalke keeper.
Both sides are trying to exert themselves on the game early on, but neither has managed to string together many passes at the moment. Draxler is the latest to give the ball away before bringing down Xhaka, but nothing comes from the free kick. The hosts string together a few passes and Hanke holds up the ball before laying off to Juan Arango, but his shot flies over.
It looks as though Draxler has started on the left and Bastos on the right here. Neither player has been in the game in the opening exchanges, though, as an ambitious Raffael shot from range is deflected behind for a needless corner. Again nothing comes from the set piece, though, as Schalke now start to keep the ball nicely.
As I say that, Atsuto Uchida's pass to Sead Kolasinac is massively overhit and goes out of play. Gladbach are now being harried in possession by Schalke, but win a corner as Kolasinac heads a poor Arango crossfield ball behind his own goal for a corner.
CHANCE! Great defending from Joel Matip after Huntelaar had flicked on the corner at the near post right into the danger area. Matip got there first and managed to clear back over his own bar. Hanke won the header from the next corner but directed it over the bar. A nasty sliding tackle from Filip Daems on Uchida earns him a rightful booking.
There still hasn't really been a proper chance as yet and the game, rather than being full of attacking talent, has been somewhat scrappy. Jermaine Jones is the next player to give away a free kick with a late tackle, but there's no booking for him.
Finally a well-timed tackle. Tony Jantschke is in quickly to win the ball from Huntelaar as the Dutchman looked to turn. Huntelaar is then threaded through by Kolasinac but Dominguez gets a really good touch as he stretched for the ball to stop the striker having a clean run.
At the other end Herrmann breaks down the left after breaking a really poor offside trap. He takes his time and finds the onrushing Mlapa, who slices an effort high and wide when well placed. He should have at least tested Hildebrand then.
Schalke are certainly seeing more of the ball, but that chance just then shows the threat that Gladbach pose. Huntelaar comes deep to find Jones, who spreads wide to Kolasinac, but the left-back's cross is well cleared by Daems.
The game has gone scrappy again, with both sides giving the ball away frequently. Schalke work some passes together, but are forced back to Hildebrand.
Not a great deal to report in the last few minutes. Gladbach have finally had an extended spell of possession, but it ends when Mlapa overhits an easy pass wide to Arango and the chance has gone.
Gladbach, who have threatened from their corners so far, win another one but this time Stranzl is penalised for a foul on Draxler when going for the header.
Stranzl gives away a free kick with a slide tackle on Jones; the Schalke man just about got to the ball first. In fact, it's a drop ball and not a free kick, so Gladbach get the ball back to work a move.
Schalke are completely in control of the passing and are pinging it about on the edge of the Gladbach box. However, they're lacking a cutting edge as Neustadter and then Uchida give the ball away in quick succession.
BOOKING: It's the same story at the other end, though, as Gladbach are equally wasteful in possession. Dominguez goes into the book for catching Huntelaar late from behind.
Matip gives the ball away by dropping the ball far too short for Kolasinac. The ball is worked to Herrmann but instead of threading in Hanke he goes for goal from some distance and succeeds only in finding the stands.
Kolasinac crosses from the edge of the box, but it almost finds the near post, with Ter Stegen alert enough to push it behind. The keeper then comes out to claim the corner emphatically. At the other end Uchida gets in a mess with Mlapa lurking, but Matip is across to help him out. The come forward again and Raffael tries an ambitious header from the edge of the box, but it's harmlessly wide.
SAVE! Draxler finds Raffael, who lays it right to Bastos. The Brazilian cuts on to his left and goes for the bottom corner, but Ter Stegen is down comfortably and does well to push it well clear of danger.
That was the closest Schalke have been, but it can only go down as a half-chance. Indeed, the best remains Mlapa's at the other end but opportunities have been too few and far between at the moment. Neither side deserves to be leading and 0-0 is unfortunately the right score.
Mlapa is becoming more and more frustrated for Gladbach. His touch is very heavy and he just hasn't been at the races at the moment. The same can be said for many players, in fairness, as Matip puts an Arango ball behind for another home corner.
Mlapa finally gathers the ball and looks to drive towards goal but a combination of Howedes and Matip gets the ball back for Schalke. Both defences are proving very hard to break down and it's easy to see why Gladbach have been so tough to beat here.
BOOKING: Jones becomes the first player in the book for Schalke for jumping with an arm on Marx. It's possibly a little harsh, as Marx also had his arm up but Jones had just leapt higher.
Not long left until the break now, and I'd be stunned if we got a goal now. Still Mlapa's effort early on is the best chance, but it can't go down as a sitter. Bastos has now come across to the left, but is still having little success against his full-back - now Jantschke.
Two minutes of added time have been indicated here at Borussia Park. Schalke are on the ball and pressing in the closing stages of the half.
HALF-TIME: Gladbach 0-0 Schalke
So a somewhat disappointing first half comes to an end and Schalke have shown few signs that they might have a say against the solid Gladbach home record. The visitors have seen more of the ball but have created next to nothing. Gladbach have been slightly better in terms of chance creation, but they've not done enough to score either.
The best chance of the game so far has fallen to Gladbach's Mlapa. From a quick break down the left he was found by Herrmann but did not manage to test Hildebrand when well positioned. Another chance fell when Huntelaar flicked a corner towards his own goal, but Matip arrived to head over the bar.
The only shot on target came form Bastos, but it wasn't much of a chance in truth. Bastos cut in and shot from the corner of the box, but Ter Stegen was down comfortably to save. Otherwise, Schalke have found no way through whatsoever.
STATISTICS: As was probably expected, Schalke have seen most of the ball - they have had 60% of the possession tonight. However, they've done nothing with it and have a somewhat shameful two shots on target. Gladbach have had four shots - all off target and have edged the corner count with five to Schalke's four.
SCHALKE SUB: Uchida, who took a knock in the first half, has made way for Marco Hoger.
KICKOFF: The visitors get us back underway for what simply must be a better half.
Neither side has yet taken control of the half. Both are resorting to long balls as they get closed down and no one can keep it on the deck as yet. Schalke are just able to work a bit of possession in the middle but it's still leading nowhere.
I think that's what's known in the business as 'using his experience' from Matip. Herrmann races after a low pass but Matip gets himself in front to draw the contact and win the free kick. At the other end Jones wins a corner off Daems.
This time they play it short, but it's stolen by Herrmann before the cross can even come in. There's no let up in the scrappiness here as both sides keep giving away soft and sloppy free kicks. Herrmann crosses, which Howedes heads clear but only as far as Xhaka, but his skidding effort is a couple of yards wide.
Draxler, back on the left, tries to get away down the left but a heavy touch allows Jantschke in and the right-back wins the goal kick off the teenage winger. Schalke now are back passing the ball but are still hugely lacking in penetration as Huntelaar's pass in the general direction of Draxler is overhit.
OFF THE BAR! Herrmann is found down the left. He holds it up and finds Hanke, who in turn looks for Xhaka, but the Swiss fires his effort off the top of the bar. Then at the other end Bastos tests Ter Stegen with a low drive and wins a corner.
Hanka is deemed to be offside from an Arango flick-on, but to me that looks level. He might not have had a chance on goal but that's not a great decision by the official.
Schalke are still probing patiently despite their lack of chances. Huntelaar drifts to the left and gets in a cross, but he delayed it too long and Raffael was crowded out at the far post. The Dutchman is clearly lacking fitness; he's been poor.
Aside from that frantic minute a while ago, this half has been equally lacking in chances. Bastos for Schalke and Xhaka for Gladbach look the most likely to make something happen, but their teammates don't seem to want to help them out.
OFF THE POST! What a bizarre couple of moments. First Mlapa shot poorly from a Herrmann pass and it fell to Arango, who curled it from outside the box. Hildebrand left it as he thought it was going wide but it bounced back off the post. Nearly a monumental rick from the keeper.
CHANCE! Draxler threads a lovely pass into the left channel to Huntelaar. He's slightly wide and on his weaker foot, but Huntelaar still manages to test Ter Stegen, who saved well down low.
BOOKING: Draxler is the next player to get booked, as he catches Marx with his trailing leg with a slide tackle. There's also a change for the hosts, as Branimir Hrgota comes on for the disappointing Mlapa.
CHANCE! Immediate chance for the substitute Hrgota. He dummied to shoot on his left, but cut inside Howedes, before Hildebrand comes out well to save at his feet.
Gladbach have certainly had the better chances in this and have come closest, twice hitting the woodwork. At the other end Draxler shoots from outside the box; it's dipping but Ter Stegen manages to keep it out.
BOOKING: A frustrated Huntelaar goes into the book for a late tackle, before Gladbach replace their other striker Hanke with Luuk De Jong. So it's still two up top for them with fresh legs up front.
Neither side is on top of proceedings at the moment. It still looks very unlikely that we'll see a goal, as Stranzl is harshly penalised for a foul on Huntelaar.
From the free kick Bastos tries to drill it but it's a terrible effort and easily blocked. At the other end Hildebrand is nearly caught out again, but a stretching Hrgota puts the ball over at the far post.
It looks as though Huntelaar has time and space in the box, but he's quickly surrounded and cannot work the angle for a shot. The ball comes back in and the Dutchman blocks Bastos's header inadvertently.
GOAL! Gladbach 0-1 Schalke (Julian Draxler)
Oh dear Juan Arango. Of all players in the Gladbach side, you'd expect Arango to find one of two players when there's only one covering defender. As it is Schalke break through Draxler, who plays a one-two with Raffael and fires low past Ter Stegen. It might not be deserved, but it's a big goal.
SCHALKE SUB: The 17-year-old Max Meyer comes on for Bastos.
SUBS: For the hosts, Marx comes off for Amin Younes, while for Schalke Raffael makes way for Christian Fuchs.
Can the final change reap rewards for Gladbach? It's probably slightly harsh on them that they are behind, but with a scrappy game like this has been one moment of clinical finishing often wins it.
CHANCE! Oh dear, that should be game over. One substitute Fuchs cuts back to another Meyer. The youngster takes a touch but fires over when it was pretty much an open goal in front of him. Really poor.
Stranzl is up as an emergency striker now as Gladbach go for broke, but I suspect they'll come away with nothing. Arango finds De Jong, but Kolasinac tackles him well as three minutes of stoppage time is announced.
CHANCE! That must be Glabach's last chance. A free kick is drilled to the back post and Stranzl meets it ahead of everyone, but cannot direct it on target.
FULL-TIME: Gladbach 0-1 Schalke
Well, that now means that Gladbach cannot finish in the top four and it is certainly Schalke's to lose. The hosts must now challenge for a place in the Europa League instead.
Thanks for joining me tonight, and be sure to stay on site tonight and over the weekend for all the latest news and reaction. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
