Schalke on Wednesday squeaked into the UEFA Champions League round of 16 thanks to a 1-0 win at Slovenian side Maribor. Nineteen-year-old Max Meyer scored the only goal of the gamefor the Bundesliga giant, which needed Chelsea to beat Sporting Lisbon (which it did, 3-1) in order to secure qualification from Group G for the second phase.
“Of course we are happy withthe result and with our qualification for the knockout stage,” coach Roberto Di Matteo said. “We deserved this win, we were the better side. Maribor played well in the first half,but in the second there were some vital moments where we pressed hard and scored. Max Meyer was a bit disappointed because he didn’t start the match, but as you have seen he was the most important manin the end. His future at the club is really bright.”