Schalke tie with Monchengladbach in UEFA Europa League

Schalke's Guido Burgstaller and Thilo Kehrer react at the first leg in UEFA Europa League's round of the last 16 on March 9, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

BERLIN - Schalke and Monchengladbach played out a 1-1 stalemate at the first leg in UEFA Europa League's round of the last 16 on Wednesday.

Borussia Monchengladbach 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.

The "Royal Blues" 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 into the encounter, it were the visitors who broke the deadlock through Jonas 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 Leon Goretzka unleashed a pass into path, which allowed Guido 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 meters 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 defense.

Schalke pressed for the winner and wasted a few of 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.

"We played a good first half but Schalke increased the pressure after the break. We will have to stage a top performance at the second leg to book our berth for the next round," Monchengladbach coach Dieter Hecking said.

"We played a dominant second half but missed a couple of opportunities. We deserved the victory but shared the spoils unfortunately," Schalke coach Markus Weinzierl said.

With the result, Monchengladbach will take the advantage of one away goal into the second leg while Schalke need at least one goal on the road.