Breitenreiter disappointed by Mainz defeat

Schalke 04 head coach Andre Breitenreiter believes his side had the better of the game despite a 2-1 loss to Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Friday night.

Breitenreiter admitted he always knew it was going to be a difficult match, but believes his side was in the ascendancy for most of the tie and claimed both of Mainz' goals came against the run of play.

"It was just as tough a game as we'd expected. We started well and played by far the better football," he told the club's official website.

"The first two chances of the game were ours as well through with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Leon Goretzka. Other than the early Cordoba chance, we gave Mainz very little.

"Then almost out of nothing we ship the first goal. We didn't defend against it very well.

"In the second half, we got straight out of the traps and scored the equaliser immediately. We really had them with their backs to the wall for the following 15 minutes or so.

"But we couldn't make the pressure count. Their second goal, again came from almost nothing. Towards the end we gave absolutely everything again, but unfortunately come away from the game defeated," he concluded.