Schalke tie with Monchengladbach in Europa League

Gelsenkirchen (Germany) March 10 (IANS) Schalke and Monchengladbach played out a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg in a pre quarter-final of the UEFA Europa League s football championship.

Monchengladbach on Thursday took the lead through Jonas Hofmann before Schalke s Guido Burgstaller cancelled out the opener to secure his side a 1-1 draw on home soil reports Xinhua news agency.

Schalke took the reins from the kick off as Leon Goretzka and Johannes Geis approached Monchengladbach s goal area dangerously in the opening period.

Despite Schalke s dominant start it was the visitors who broke the deadlock through Hofmann who made use of Lars Stindl s through ball to beat onrushing Ralf Faehrmann from close range in the 15th minute.

Markus Weinzierl s men remained unimpressed and responded just 10 minutes later. The hosts forced a turnover in the midfield and Goretzka unleashed a pass into the path which allowed Burgstaller to slot home into the far post corner.

Schalke almost grabbed the lead before the break but Monchengladbach s goalkeeper Yann Sommer tipped Johannes Geis free kick from 28 metres around the post.

After the restart Schalke controlled the proceedings on the pitch whereas the Foals lacked in penetration and ideas to overcome the hosts well positioned defence.

Schalke pressed for the winner and wasted a few promising chances as Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting rattled the right post before Burgstaller hit the woodwork.

Monchengladbach were able to protect the draw thanks to their goalkeeper Yann Sommer who defused the efforts from Choupo-Moting and Geis in the dying minutes of the game.

With the result Monchengladbach will take the advantage of one away goal into the second leg.

--IANS
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