GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! SCHOPF FINDS THE NET!!!! 1-0 SCHALKE!!! The home side take the lead in the dying stages of the game. Lokomotiv fail to clear their lines from Konoplyanka's free-kick. Serdar launches an acrobatic effort at goal that is beaten away by Guilherme. The rebound falls straight to Schopf six yards from goal and he makes no mistake blasting his strike into the bottom corner.
Kvirkvelia brings down Harit 30 yards from goal. Schalke will have a free-kick to threaten with to potentially steal the contest.
90'
There will be two minutes of added time.
88'
Barinov and Smolov combine on the edge of the box and the latter tries to release the midfielder with a backheeled pass behind the Schalke defence. The idea is a good one from the Russia international, but the execution is off by a fraction as Fahrmann gathers the loose ball ahead of Barinov.
87'
B. Stambouli gets yellow.
Stambouli is booked for a deliberate handball on the half-way line, stopping Krychowiak's attempted throughball.
85'
OVER! Lokomotiv move the ball with speed down the right flank. Smolov takes over the attack and cuts in on his left foot to fire at goal, but he can only bend his effort harmlessly over the bar.
82'
Harit breaks into space down the right flank and he goes for the cross, but Rybus is back to stop the ball from progressing further than the inside channel.
80'
J. Farfán gets yellow.
F. Smolov enters the game and replaces J. Farfán.
The booking is Farfan's last act in the game as he is replaced by Smolov.
Farfan is late with a challenge on Stambouli and goes into the book.
79'
Konoplyanka vents his frustration as he runs into space down the left, but Rahman overhits his pass out for a throw-in to the visitors.
77'
Schalke are growing with confidence as the game progresses. Given that the Russian outfit need to win to qualify for the Europa League they're not showing a great deal of urgency.
Minute
Description
74'
Konoplyanka and Schopf combine down the right flank, but it's only good enough to win a corner. Schalke have improved their play in the attacking third in the second half, but it still hasn't been enough.
72'
A. Kutucu enters the game and replaces C. Teuchert.
Teuchert is withdrawn for Schalke and is replaced by Kutucu.
70'
Galatasaray are losing 3-2 at home to Porto. The opportunity to qualify for the Europa League is there for the visitors, but they need to up the ante in the final third.
68'
Konoplyanka feeds Serdar through the middle and he weaves his way through a couple of challenges before firing at goal. His effort lacks power and Guilherme is able to get down to make the stop.
67'
Konoplyanka twists and turns his way down the left flank and he scoops a delivery into the middle. However, Rybus is well placed for the visitors to head away from danger.
65'
B. Höwedes gets yellow.
Howedes is booked for a challenge on Teuchert, although replays show there was no contact on the Schalke forward as he fell to the deck.
63'
Schopf probes on the right flank, firing a low ball into the middle. Harit tries to connect, but Mascarell gets in his way as he attempts to pull the trigger.
59'
A. Harit enters the game and replaces B. Goller.
Goller impressed in the first half and now is withdrawn for Harit.
58'
Omar Mascarell gets yellow.
57'
The contest has opened up in the second half, with both teams willing to take more chances at the back in possession. It's just what the game needs.
55'
Naldo makes a mistake at the back and almost allows Anton Mirancuk to pounce, but Stambouli is back to make a timely interception.
54'
OVER! Anton Miranchuk floats the resulting corner into the box and Kvirkvelia rises highest at the near post, although he can only head his effort harmlessly over the bar.
52'
Better from Konoplyanka as he forces a low ball across the face of goal for Teuchert to attack. He gets a flick on the ball, but it drifts away from the net. Schopf tries to keep the attack alive, but Howedes deflects his delivery out for a corner.
51'
Aleksey Miranchuk feeds his brother Anton Miranchuk on the edge of the box with a sharp offload, but the latter sees his strike blocked by Naldo before the home side clear the danger.
49'
Schalke attempt to put pressure on the visitors and space almost opens up for Teuchert with a neat flick, but he just overruns the ball out for a goal-kick.
48'
Konoplyanka goes on the charge down the left flank and from a tight angle he goes for goal, but his effort deflects off Ignatjev and goes behind for a corner.
46'
Anton Miranchuk enters the game and replaces Éder.
Eder makes way at the break for Anton Miranchuk.
We're back underway at the Veltins-Arena.
45' +4
HALF-TIME: SCHALKE 0-0 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW
45' +3
B. Goller gets yellow.
Goller pulls back Rybus down the flank and goes into the book.
45' +2
Konoplyanka floats the ball towards the back post for the run of Naldo, but Guilherme judges the flight well once again to make the claim ahead of the defender.
45' +1
I. Denisov gets yellow.
Teuchert tries to get the better of Denisov, but he gets pulled down by the Lokomotiv skipper on his way forward. The referee awards a free-kick to the home side.
Denisov goes into the book for his challenge on Teuchert.
45'
There will be three minutes of added time.
43'
WIDE! Rybus lines up a shot to nothing from 25 yards, and although he makes good contact with his effort, the ball travels wide of the post.
42'
Schopf runs through the Lokomotiv midfield and is not closed down by the visitors. From 25 yards he goes for the strike, only to fire his effort straight at Guilherme.
40'
WIDE! Mascarell tries to thread the needle with a precise offload, but his pass it cut out. Konoplyanka seizes on the loose ball and goes for a curler from 20 yards, only to see his effort sail comfortably wide of the target.
39'
Konoplyanka is the outlet for the home side down the left flank. He doesn't have a great deal of options in the final third, but curls a cross to the back post where Guilherme watches the ball safely wide of his post.
37'
BLOCK! Rahman collects in space down the left flank and he sends the ball into the middle for Teuchert. The forward cannot hold the ball under pressure, but it falls kindly for Mascarell to strike. However, his effort is charged down by Kvirkvelia, throwing his body in front of the strike.
35'
Schalke continue to utilise Konoplyanka in the final third, but he wastes yet another promising position, failing to capitalise on space in the left inside channel.
34'
Konoplyanka is brought down by Krychowiak, but the resulting cross by the midfielder is poor as Guilherme punches the ball clear with his fists.
33'
Schopf runs with menace down the right flank and sends a decent cross towards the near post. Howedes reads the danger and puts his body on the line to direct the ball away from Teuchert.
32'
It's not a surprise to see Schalke look disjointed due to the number of changes made from the weekend. On the other side, Lokomotiv made only one switch and have struggled for any forward momentum in the opening 32 minutes.
30'
Konoplyanka whips the resulting set-piece into the box, only for Guilherme to come off his line to make a good claim in a crowd of players.
29'
Konoplyanka makes a promising raid into the final third before he gets dispossessed in the box by Barinov, who manages to poke the ball behind for a corner.
28'
Aleksey Miranchuk takes the free-kick, but his cross fails to beat the first Schalke defender, allowing the German side to clear with ease.
27'
S. Serdar gets yellow.
Ignatjev charges forward down the right flank before being pulled to the deck by Serdar. Lokomotiv are handed a free-kick in a dangerous position.
Serdar goes into the book for pulling back Ignatjev.
25'
The pace of the game has been very slow to say the least. Neither side has been able to string together a series of passes to put the other under pressure at the back.
23'
Konoplyanka whips the resulting corner into the box and the ball runs into the path of Naldo. The defender cannot adjust his body in time to strike an effort at goal before the visitors stab the ball away from danger.
22'
Goller enjoys another surge down the right flank and he has space to send a cross into the box towards Teuchert. Two Lokomotiv defenders are there to make the block, diverting the ball behind for a corner.
21'
OFFSIDE! Goller finds space in the final third and he goes for the strike on the edge of the box. It deflects into the path of Teuchert, who shapes to shoot. However, he is flagged offside as soon as he makes contact.
20'
For a team that needs to win the game, Lokomotiv have not started the game with any urgency. Yuri Semin will not be pleased with his side's effort thus far.
18'
The home side are able to clear the resulting corner with relative ease. We're waiting for an injection of quality into the contest.
17'
Rahman puts his team in trouble and Aleksey Miranchuk surges forward down the right flank. He breaks towards the byline, but is tackled by Serdar before he can send a cross into the box. Lokomotiv still have a corner.
16'
A. Baba enters the game and replaces H. Mendyl.
Rahman replaces Mendyl for the home side at left-back.
14'
Mendyl may have to make way here as he drops to the turf and pounds the floor in agony after trying to retake the field following the challenge.
12'
Barinov is fortunate to escape a booking for a late lunge on Mendyl. Schalke have a free-kick down the left flank.
11'
Schalke keep possession well in the final third and probe the visitors' backline for an opening. Konoplyanka tries to up the ante, but he fails to lift a dangerous cross into the box, guiding his attempt over the bar.
10'
Konoplyanka has a surge down the left and combines with Mendyl, but the full-back takes a poor touch and the ball trickles out for a goal-kick.
8'
There's not a great tempo to the contest in the early stages as both sides seem content to play the simple pass.
6'
Farfan latches on to an offload from Aleksey Miranchuk and he cuts in to shoot on his right foot. However, his effort is tame and straight into the hands of Fahrmann.
5'
Goller has space down the right and he hooks a cross into the box. Mendyl lines up an effort on the edge, but he slices his shot into a wall of Lokomotiv defenders before the visitors clear the danger.
3'
We're back underway as Eder is given the all clear to continue by the Lokomotiv physio.
2'
Eder and Naldo clash heads in the final third, which leaves the Lokomotiv forward on the deck. He requires treatment before play can resume.
1'
We're underway at the Veltins-Arena.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League Group D clash between Schalke and Lokomotiv Moscow at the Veltins-Arena.
SCHALKE (4-1-3-2): Ralf Fahrmann; Benjamin Goller, Naldo, Matija Nastasic, Hamza Mendyl; Benjamin Stambouli; Alessandro Schopf, Suat Serdar, Omar Mascarell; Yevhen Konoplyanka; Cedric Teuchert.
SUBS: Weston McKennie, Abdul Rahman Baba, Ahmed Kutucu, Daniel Caligiuri, Amine Harit, Salif Sane, Alexander Nubel.
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW (4-4-2): Guilherme; Vladislav Ignatjev, Solomon Kvirkvelia, Benedikt Howedes, Maciej Rybus; Dimitri Barinov, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Igor Denisov, Aleksey Miranchuk; Eder, Jefferson Farfan.
SUBS: Brian Idowu, Fedor Smolov, Anton Miranchuk, Taras Mykhalyk, Roman Tugarev, Anton Kochenkov, Rifat Zhemaletdinov.
Former Schalke players Howedes and Farfan have been honoured by their former team on their return to the Veltins-Arena. Howedes began his career with Schalke in their youth system and played professionally for the club for 10 years before his departure, while Farfan notched over 200 appearances for Schalke in his seven seasons.
Schalke have already secured their place in the next round of the competition, despite losing to Porto 3-1 last time out. The German outfit's two victories over Galatasaray and Lokomotiv in their previous clash were enough to send them through with eight points. Moscow on the other hand are bottom of the group with only three points to their name. They defeated Galatasaray on home soil last time out and another victory this evening could see them leapfrog the Turkish side into third place for the Europa League spot.
The players are out on the field so we should be underway shortly.
It's goalless at the break at the Veltins-Arena, although Lokomotiv Moscow should have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time. The visitors had been underwhelming for the majority of the first half, but came to life in the final minute, only for the skipper to clear the bar with a glorious opening in the box. Galatasaray are losing at home against Porto in the other Group D match this evening, which means a win for the Russian outfit would secure them a place in the Europa League.
Schalke have been lacklustre in the contest, although considering they did make eight changes to their side it's not unexpected. Domenico Tedesco will be looking for more from his team in the final third in the second half, especially Yevhen Konoplyanka, who has been wasteful in possession.
Schalke are next in action in the Bundesliga on Saturday against Augsburg on the road, while Lokomotiv Moscow are now entering their winter break and will not play again until February.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
Commentary
More…