Schalke 04 defeated SC Paderborn 2:1 in the 2. Bundesliga's top match, taking the league lead. Despite two VAR interventions and an early deficit, the Royal Blues turned the game around for the win. They now lead with 31 points, two ahead of Paderborn.
The match in Gelsenkirchen started tough for Schalke. In the 8th minute, Paderborn's Calvin Brackelmann fouled Moussa Sylla, initially leading to a penalty. Referee Tobias Reichel awarded it, but VAR review overturned the call: The foul occurred just outside the penalty area. Kenan Karaman's subsequent free kick hit the wall (14th minute).
Paderborn then took the lead: Raphael Obermair's cross was headed in by Laurin Curda for 1:0 (38th minute), beating goalkeeper Loris Karius. Schalke equalized before halftime. The ball reached Karaman via Christopher Antwi-Adjei, who controlled it and scored the 1:1 (45+3rd minute).
In the second half, Schalke thought they led early: Sylla finished a pass from Soufiane El-Faouzi for an apparent 2:1 (63rd minute), but he was offside. VAR intervened again, and Reichel announced the goal's invalidity to the stadium. Schalke pressed on, creating chances nearly every minute. Paderborn goalkeeper Dennis Seimen first saved a one-on-one from substitute Bryan Lasme (70th minute), but Lasme later lofted in the 2:1 winner (86th minute).
The victory displaced Paderborn from the top spot. Hannover 96 stays close: The team won 3:0 against Karlsruher SC with goals from Husseyn Chakroun (68th), Benedikt Pichler (70th), and Mustapha Bundu (77th), sitting third for now.