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FC Schalke 04: 5 things we learned from win over Gladbach

ByKevin Parvizi|
17 January 2020, North Rhine-Westphalia, Gelsenkirchen: Football: Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 - Borussia Mönchengladbach, 18th matchday in the Veltins Arena: Schalke's Omar Mascarell (l) and coach David Wagner hug each other. Photo: Bernd Thissen/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited in the stadium and/or from the game taken photographs in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images)
17 January 2020, North Rhine-Westphalia, Gelsenkirchen: Football: Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 - Borussia Mönchengladbach, 18th matchday in the Veltins Arena: Schalke's Omar Mascarell (l) and coach David Wagner hug each other. Photo: Bernd Thissen/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited in the stadium and/or from the game taken photographs in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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FC Schalke 04 were rampant in their first game after the holiday break, as they defeated Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 at the Veltins Arena behind a wonderful debut from Michael Gregoritsch.

Expectations are high for FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga season’s Rückrunde, especially after they made a statement in their first game back from the break by defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0.

Gladbach came into Matchday 18 at the Veltins Arena as the second-best team in the Bundesliga, having spent much of the Hinrunde in first place. But Schalke looked like the real title contenders on Friday night, defeating Marco Rose’s side 2-0.

Here are five things we learned from Schalke’s stellar performance in Gelsenkirchen.

1. Schalke are true title contenders

They may have been outside the top four Champions League spots heading into the Rückrunde, but after defeating the second-placed team in the Bundesliga in such convincing fashion, the Royal Blues showed that they have as good of a chance as anyone at catching up to RB Leipzig in first place.

The Bundesliga title race is as wide open as it gets, and Schalke very much feel like one of the major players. Acquiring Michael Gregoritsch and Jean-Clair Todibo has made a strong squad that much more complete, and the returns of players like Salif Sane and Weston McKennie will reenforce David Wagner’s side’s standing as one of the league’s best.

This was a tremendous victory, in which Schalke showcased their improved attack and world-class defending. And they did it without their best player in Amine Harit. Incredible.

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