FC Schalke: 5 things we learned from 2-1 win over Werder Bremen

FC Schalke 04 took care of business on Matchday 12, grabbing all three points at the Weserstadion in a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen.

While Yuya Osako made it interesting in the final 10 minutes with a goal for the home side, FC Schalke 04 mostly cruised to a 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen at the Westerstadion to pick up three more crucial points in their race to return to the Champions League in 2020.

Schalke were fully expected to win the match and bounce back from a 3-3 draw two Fortuna Dusseldorf prior to the international break. The Royal Blues have one of the most talented squads in the Bundesliga, and their talent at all three levels of defense, midfield, and attack were on display in this victory.

Here are five things we learned from this impressive showing from David Wagner’s side.

1. Ozan Kabak is as good as advertised

Schalke surrendered a combined five goals to Augsburg and Dusseldorf in Ozan Kabak’s first two Bundesliga starts for Die Knappen, but the defense tightened up around the center back pairing of Kabak and the returning Matija Nastasic.

Between Nastasic and Kabak, the younger center back was the better performer on Saturday. He had four tackles, per WhoScored.com, adding in some quality passing out of the back to support Schalke’s ball movement.

Kabak didn’t draw an easy assignment on the road against Bremen, as the likes of Milot Rashica are dangerous in the attack. However, the young Turkish international kept Bremen quiet, turning in his third straight strong performance of the season.

When Kabak joined Schalke this summer, fans expected greatness from a prospect heralded as one of the Bundesliga’s best young players. He has more than met expectations thus far.