Goals from Jefferson Farfan and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw Schalke beat Lyon as both qualified from UEFA Champions League Group B.
Huntelaar and Farfan goals see Schalke win as Lyon also progress
Goals from Jefferson Farfan and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw Schalke beat Lyon 3-0 as both qualified from UEFA Champions League Group B.
Farfan put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute when slotting home a loose ball in the box.
The unmarked Huntelaar then doubled the advantage on 20 minutes after a Peer Kluge's pass from the left dissected the Lyon defence.
Raul's looping effort looked to be heading into the top left corner but was pushed out by Hugo Lloris, while at the other end Lisandro Lopez went down under a challenge from Lukas Schmitz for a penalty appeal just before half time but the referee waved play on.
Huntelaar then added his second with a minute remaining as both sides qualified after nearest challengers Benfica slumped to a surprise defeat at Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
Leaders Schalke can not be caught by Benfica while Lyon are three points ahead heading into the final group games on 7th December but have gone through courtesy of their superior head-to-head record against the Portuguese.
Started brightly
The hosts started brightly in front of a noisy crowd of 60,013 in Gelsenkirchen and Huntelaar headed Farfan's corner over early on.
A rare Lyon attack saw Lisandro Lopez go through on goal, but Manuel Neuer's somewhat panicky punch and Benedikt Howedes' excellent subsequent tackle launched a sparkling counter-attack involving neat flicks from Farfan and Raul which ended with Lloris gathering Jurado's long-range half-volley.
The Germans then took a deserved lead when, after seizing on Pape Diakhate's mistake, Raul saw his shot closed down by the Senegal defender but the loose ball broke for the impressive Farfan to calmly stroke home.
Neuer made a fine low save as Michel Bastos met Yoann Gourcuff's corner with a volley - and Schalke swiftly made it 2-0.
Kluge linked up with Jurado and produced a perfectly-weighted diagonal pass for Huntelaar to finish low past Lloris, still with only 20 minutes on the clock.
Farfan was booked for diving - earning a suspension - after going over Lloris' challenge and the France keeper then had to back-pedal sharply to tip over the irrepressible Raul's instinctive long-range lob.
Lisandro was unluckier to see a penalty appeal dismissed when he appeared to be bundled over by Schmitz, although he too made the most of the challenge.
Lyon introduced forward Bafetimbi Gomis in place of Cissokho at the interval and Bastos' cross flashed dangerously across the box early in the second period.
Lengthy treatment
Jurado shot over before Metzelder's challenge saw Gourcuff depart on a stretcher after lengthy treatment to his ankle. Miralem Pjanic was his replacement and the Bosnia and Herzegovina international soon lashed a free-kick wide from nearly 40 yards.
Edu replaced Farfan and marked his arrival by flattening Bastos, the free-kick leading to another chance wasted by the ineffective Lisandro.
Kallstrom failed to connect properly with an acrobatic but hopelessly ambitious volley before lively youngster Jeremy Pied replaced Lisandro.
The Sweden midfielder went closer with a 35-yard drive which Neuer bizarrely slid and sidefooted wide before Jeremy Toulalan, after a number of physical challenges, was finally booked for sliding in late on Jurado.
Huntelaar's well-struck drive was held at the second attempt by Lloris but the Holland frontman was not to be denied his second as his shot deflected off Anthony Reveillere to leave Lloris helpless.
Pied flashed a volley wide and Neuer saved from Gomis as Lyon were denied a late consolation.
| FC Schalke 04 |
Team Statistics |
Lyon |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
7 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 8 |
Corners |
7 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
14 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 71.4 |
Passing Success |
84.5 |
| 40 |
Tackles |
19 |
| 87.5 |
Tackles Success |
68.4 |
| 37.3 |
Possession |
62.7 |
| 54.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
45.2 |
|
