Klaas-Jan Huntelaar cancelled out Damjan Bohar's first-half opener as Schalke 04 and Maribor played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in matchday two of the Champions League tonight.
It was the visiting Slovenians who took the lead as Bohar tapped home a fine cut-back from Mitja Viler to give Maribor a slender half-time lead.
However, left-back Viler went from hero to villain after Huntelaar seized upon his error on 56 minutes to restore parity.
Below, Sports Mole analyses tonight's clash in Gelsenkirchen.
© Getty Images
Match statistics
SCHALKE
Shots: 15
On target: 4
Possession: 62%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 13
MARIBOR
Shots: 7
On target: 4
Possession: 38%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 13
Was the result fair? On the balance of play, yes. Maribor weathered a storm of early Schalke pressure before growing into the game and taking a deserved first-half lead, while the visitors then kept their heads even after being pegged back. The Germans missed one or two opportunities that will play on their minds in training tomorrow, but by and large they did not do enough to wrestle a hard-fought point away from Maribor.
Schalke's performance
Schalke boss Jens Keller will feel like his side dropped two points tonight; not because they spurned a host of opportunities, but because they boast more than enough quality to beat Maribor. However, too few of their big performers turned up, with Julian Draxler drifting in and out of the game, while it was a night to forget for Kevin-Prince Boateng. Schalke have reached the last-16 stage in each of the last four group stages in which they qualified, but there is work to be done to maintain that record this time around.
Maribor's performance
Maribor went into the clash as 10/1 underdogs to leave with three points but, despite only leaving with one, few inside the Veltins-Arena could begrudge the Slovenians their hard-fought draw. The Violets gave as good as they got in an entertaining first half before taking the lead. Ante Simundza's side then refused to panic after being pegged back on 56 minutes and defended stoutly to earn their point. It marks their second straight 1-1 draw after holding Sporting Lisbon last time out. The perceived whipping boys in Group G must have shunned the script.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar: The Dutchman netted the all-important equaliser for Schalke - albeit with the help of Viler - and is one of the few players in blue that would have left the field with his pride intact in a game where several of their big-name performers failed to turn up.
Biggest gaffe
Mitja Viler might be the quietest on the plane back to Slovenia tonight after his error gifted Schalke a route back into the game. The midfielder's suicidal back-pass was pounced on by Huntelaar, who squeezed his shot into the bottom corner. It reinvigorated Schalke at a time in the game where the Germans looked bereft of both confidence and creativity.
Referee performance
Carlos Velasco Carballo brandished his yellow card on five occasions throughout the 90 minutes, all of which were justified. The no-nonsense Spaniard controlled the game superbly and can feel proud of his performance tonight.
What next?
Schalke: Schalke resume Bundesliga commitments on Saturday by travelling to Hoffenheim.
Maribor: Maribor, meanwhile, fly back to Slovenia tonight and will begin preparations for Saturday night's clash with Ol Ljubljana.
Shane Callaghan
