Schalke 04 Solidifies Top Spot in 2. Bundesliga with 2-0 Win Over Fortuna Düsseldorf

Schalke 04 strengthened their position at the summit of the 2. Bundesliga with a commanding 2-0 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf. The match, held on December 5, 2025, saw Schalke's captain Kenan Karaman score a crucial penalty in stoppage time of the first half, which marked his fourth penalty goal of the season. The game's momentum shifted decisively after Düsseldorf's Oberdorf received a red card following a second yellow for a foul on Schalke's Antwi-Adjei, reducing Düsseldorf to ten men. Schalke then sealed their win with a second goal from Becker in the 82nd minute, allowing them to extend their league lead further.

The victory comes as Fortuna Düsseldorf suffered their ninth defeat of the season, putting them at risk of relegation. Meanwhile, Schalke's promotion rivals Hannover 96 dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Preußen Münster. Hannover initially led 2-0 with goals from Källman and Yokota but was pegged back by a penalty from Batista Meier and a last-minute equalizer by Sertdemir, which hampered their pursuit of Schalke.

Schalke's head coach, muscularly referring to Karaman as a "strong captain," highlighted his leadership and penalty prowess as pivotal to their success. With this result, Schalke further cements their status as front-runners in the promotion race, leaving their closest competitors struggling to keep pace.