Half-Time Report: Schalke 04 trail to SV Darmstadt 98

SV Darmstadt 98 have taken a surprise 1-0 lead into the half-time interval against Schalke 04.

Both sides looked comfortable in possession in the early stages, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when a long goal-kick was flicked into the path of Konstantin Rausch, who curled home to hand his side a surprise lead.

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Schalke were inches away from hitting back less than a minute later when Julian Draxler's long-range effort drifted wide of the post.

Andre Breitenreiter's side continued to improve after the early setback, and Draxler in particular was causing problems, finding space to test Christian Mathenia with another effort from outside the box.

Despite spending most of the first half on the back foot after taking the lead, Darmstadt twice threatened to double their advantage when Ralf Fahrmann was forced to save from Mario Vrancic and Dominik Stroh-Engel.