Schalke extend winless run to 28, three shy of unwanted Bundesliga record

Berlin (AFP) – Schalke 04 are three short of matching an unwanted Bundesliga record after Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat against Freiburg left the league’s bottom side without a win in their last 28 games.

“We lose hope too quickly. We must have more belief,” Schalke defender Benjamin Stambouli told Sky.

Schalke are closing in fast on the record, held by Tasmania Berlin who in their one Bundesliga season, went 31 matches without winning in 1965/66.

Schalke coach Manuel Baum, who took charge in September after predecessor David Wagner was fired, already has the unwanted club record of being winless in his first 10 games. 

Freiburg winger Roland Sallai headed the visitors ahead after 50 minutes behind closed doors in Gelsenkirchen, then added a second 18 minutes later when he chipped home a perfectly-timed pass.

Having only ended their own nine-match winless streak on Saturday with a 2-0 home victory against Arminia Bielefeld, Freiburg are up to 10th in the table.

Schalke have now not won a game since January.

With a third of the season gone, Schalke are six points from safety and on course for relegation after 30 unbroken seasons in Germany’s top tier.

Schalke’s next chance to end their miserable run is at home to Bielefeld, who are also in the bottom three, on Saturday.