Schalke 04 4 - 0 Monchengladbach: Schalke record first Bundesliga win of the season at sixth attempt

Posted Monday, October 03, 2016 by PA

Schalke eased the pressure on their coach Markus Weinzierl by securing their first victory of the Bundesliga season with a 4-0 thrashing of Borussia Monchengladbach.

All the goals came in the second half with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting putting the hosts in front from the penalty spot before Breel Embolo doubled their lead.

Leon Goretzka added a third before a second from Embolo sealed Schalke's first points of the campaign at the sixth attempt.

Despite winning both of their Europa League fixtures this season, the Royal Blues came into the game rooted to the foot of the table after five straight defeats.

That was exactly the same start to the season Gladbach had made last season and the fact they still finished third and qualified for the Champions League will have given Schalke some encouragement.

Indeed, their rise up the standings started with a convincing 4-2 win over Augsburg in the sixth round of matches, and Schalke will hope that can be another good omen as they too hit four to release the shackles on their season.

After an even first half, Choupo-Moting put them in front from the penalty spot after Ibrahim Traore had fouled the Cameroon international.

Just four minutes later, Switzerland striker Embolo turned in Sead Kolasinac's cross to double their advantage.

Goretzka then put Schalke firmly in the driving seat just two minutes later, scoring after both Choupo-Moting and Embolo combined.

Gladbach attempted a recovery, but there was little conviction in their actions and Embolo pounced on a mistake by Andreas Christensen to beat goalkeeper Yann Sommer to the ball and score, sealing Schalke's first win of the season which lifted them above both Hamburg and Ingolstadt into 16th.