Last week, Manuel Neuer provided another example of his unique ability to excel outside of the box. While others attempt to emulate his brazen style of play, few can replicate his skill as a sweeper keeper. Schalke’s goalie, for one, provided an example of how not to play sweeper keeper, resulting in a deserved Alexander Nübel red card for one of the most violent tackles you’ll ever see on the pitch.
Nübel is a 23-year-old keeper who has already drawn comparisons to Neuer, having made his Bundesliga debut at the age of 19. He became Schalke’s starting keeper late last season, replacing team captain Ralf Fährmann.
But the keeper still has some learning to do, as the Nübel red card showed on Sunday.
Schalke welcomed Eintracht Frankfurt to the Veltins-Arena and suffered an early blow when American Weston McKennie was carted off with an apparent dislocated shoulder following an awkward fall.
Oh no.
Weston McKennie was stretchered off with an apparant shoulder injury after this collision with Bas Dost. Get well soon, @WMckennie! pic.twitter.com/wdzLc1rZKp— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 15, 2019
We've just learned that @WMckennie has sustained a suspected dislocated shoulder.
— Schalke 04 USA (@s04_us) December 15, 2019
McKennie started the match at center back (he’s played just about every position for the club except goalie) but had to be replaced in the 13th minute.
Despite the early change in the back line, Schalke took the lead in the 53rd minute through Benito Raman.
Schalke break the deadlock!
Benito Raman stays red-hot and scores in his 4th straight Bundesliga game for the 1-0 @s04_us lead. pic.twitter.com/NGCAxsDAsB— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 15, 2019
But the lead was put in jeopardy 13 minutes later by the Nübel red card.
Alexander Nübel Red Card vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
In the 66th minute, Frankfurt played a ball over the top for Mijat Gaćinović. Before the Serbian could latch on to the ball, Nübel came charging off his line and absolutely crushed Gaćinović with a shockingly bad flying kick to the chest.
Nübel was immediately shown a red card and Gaćinović was taken off injured soon thereafter.
Umm yeah. That's a red. pic.twitter.com/7ZEYCaQCLB
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 15, 2019
The awful challenge was reminiscent of Toni Schumacher taking out Patrick Battiston at the 1982 World Cup.
Backup Schalke keeper Markus Schubert was brought on for midfielder Amine Harit and the home side was able to hold on to the victory with 10 men. The three points put Schalke ahead of Bayern Munich into fourth place through 15 matches.
The Nübel red card resulted in a four-match ban.
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