The Red Devils celebrate Marlon Ritter’s goal in the team’s 1-0 win over Schalke on Saturday night. (Facebook/1. FC Kaiserslautern)
1. FC Kaiserslautern won its home opener of the 25/26 season Saturday night, defeating Schalke 1-0 on a penalty kick.
The Red Devils got off to a quick start in front of 49,327 spectators in a sold-out Fritz Walter Stadium when Daniel Hanslik took a sharp shot in the second minute that Schalke keeper Loris Karius was able to stop.
Neither side was able to get much going after that, although FCK had close to 60% ball possession. Referee Martin Peterson showed each side a yellow card in what was mostly a defensive battle in the first half.
Nine minutes into the second half Schalke’s Ron Schellenberg fouled Hanslik in the box and Peterson called the penalty.
Marlon Ritter sent the penalty into the right corner, Karius went for the left, and the Red Devils were up 1-0.
FCK newcomer Naatan Skyttä was substituted in for Mahir Emreli in the 72nd minute, getting his first taste of Betzenberg atmosphere.
Leon Robinson replaced Ritter in the 81st minute and two minutes later was red carded by the referee for what appeared to be a brutal foul on a Schalke player.
On further review Peterson decided the Red Devil beat his opponent to the ball and took back the red and replaced it with a yellow card.
That was the last excitement in the game, and Kaiserslautern held on for its first victory of the season.
The team needs to get its offense going if it wants to play at the top of the league. The Red Devils only had two shots on target Saturday, following none the week before.
The win moved the team up to 11th place.
The Red Devils head to Potsdam for the first round of the German cup next Sunday against RSV Eintracht. Then they play their next league game in Elversberg on Aug. 22
FCK is back on the Betzenberg on Aug. 31, for a match against SV Darmstadt 98.
August 10, 2025 9:05
