Overview
- Kenan Karaman converted a 45+2' penalty awarded for a foul on Nikola Katic and was substituted at half-time as a precaution.
- Booked for the penalty foul, Düsseldorf captain Tim Oberdorf was sent off with a second yellow on 55 minutes, before Vitalie Becker sealed it in the 81st with his first Schalke goal.
- Approximately 20,000 visiting Schalke fans turned the Merkur Spiel-Arena into a near home setting for the leaders.
- Schalke moved to 34 points after 15 matches and continued to boast the division’s best defensive record with only eight goals conceded.
- Fortuna’s slide worsened with scrutiny on coach Markus Anfang following Klaus Allofs’ decision not to extend his contract, while Hannover 96 surrendered a 2–0 lead to draw 2–2 at Preußen Münster in stoppage time.