Schalke crisis deepens with shock home loss to Augsburg

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 FC Augsburg's Sergio Cordova scores their third goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

Schalke 04 slumped to a shock 3-0 home defeat by relegation-threatened Augsburg on Sunday, their fourth defeat in five games dropping them to eighth place in the Bundesliga.

Augsburg's Eduard Loewen curled in a sensational free kick from 23 metres in the sixth minute and Nigerian winger Noah Sarenren Bazee slotted home in the 76th before Sergio Cordova added the third in stoppage time.

Schalke struggled to launch decent attacks and a first-half chance which fell to Rabbi Matondo was the closest they came to scoring.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 Schalke 04's Markus Schubert saves from FC Augsburg's Noah Sarenren Bazee, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

Despite having 67% possession, the Royal Blues managed just two shots on target in the match.

The defeat piled more pressure on coach David Wagner, whose team have scored only two goals in their last nine games.

"We are not dangerous enough and our conversion rate is not good either," Wagner said. "Then we also make mistakes that lead to goals. These are all things we need to work on.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 FC Augsburg's Noah Sarenren Bazee celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

"It is also a mental thing and the current situation does not go past the boys without leaving a trace.

"Now it is about supporting the boys so they can play football again with more confidence."

The Bundesliga became the first major sports league to resume last week, with no fans in attendance, after being suspended for more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 Schalke 04's Ahmed Kutucu and teammates react after FC Augsburg's Noah Sarenren Bazee scored his sides second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

Schalke, who are now without a win in nine league games, remain on 37 points while Augsburg's first win after four straight losses lifted them to 12th spot on 30, seven points above the relegation playoff spot.

Bayern Munich lead the standings with 61 points, four ahead of Borussia Dortmund who they face on Tuesday.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 Schalke 04's Suat Serdar in action with FC Augsburg's Rani Khedira, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 Schalke 04's Jonjoe Kenny in action with FC Augsburg's Philipp Max, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 Schalke 04's Michael Gregoritsch in action with FC Augsburg's Tin Jedvaj, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 FC Augsburg's Noah Sarenren Bazee scores their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 FC Augsburg's Noah Sarenren Bazee celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v FC Augsburg - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - May 24, 2020 FC Augsburg's Noah Sarenren Bazee scores their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Martin Meissner/Pool via REUTERS