Without a win since 17 January, Tasmania Berlin’s infamous run set in 1966 is now perilously close for Die Königsblauen
Never mind needing Christmas to absorb everything that’s happened to Schalke in 2020; we might need the holidays just to make sense of everything that’s happened in the space of the last week. Eight days ago, Manuel Baum’s team were within seconds of lifting a gargantuan weight from their shoulders by way of a first Bundesliga win of the season, at Augsburg.
Since then we’ve had Marco Richter’s 93rd-minute equaliser that put an end to those hopes, a comprehensive home defeat to Freiburg which was more in keeping with their season so far, the sacking of Baum – the second head coach dumped after a dozen games in the league – and the bat signal being shone to the skies to summon the short-term help of the legendary Huub Stevens. There was perhaps a certain inevitability in Baum (‘tree’ in German) being removed by sporting director Jochen Schneider (‘cutter’), as Archie Rhind-Tutt pointed out, though there is precious little humour to be found elsewhere around the club.
Related: High-flying Leverkusen could be in the title race for long haul | Andy Brassell
"If they give up, what's the point?"
Strong words from Huub Stevens, who has his work cut out for him this time at Schalke ️ pic.twitter.com/nRN0aNRSYZ
IT HAD TO BE HIM
Lewandowski puts Munich ahead and back on top of the Bundesliga in the 93rd minute!
Heartbreak for Leverkusen pic.twitter.com/aNGFi3dH59