Schalke beats Lokomotiv 1-0 in Champions League

Alessandro Schoepf scored in injury time to give Schalke a 1-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League yesterday evening in Gelsenkirchen, denying the Russian side a place in the Europa League.

Moscow needed a win to finish third in Group D for a place in Europe’s second competition, but it finished last with 3 points, one behind Galatasaray, which secured third despite losing 3-2 at home to group winner Porto.

Schalke was already assured of second place in the group and was hoping to restore some lost pride after its Ruhr derby loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Associated Press reported.

Moscow came closest to scoring at the end of a lackluster first half, with captain Igor Denisov shooting over after Dmitri Barinov cut the ball back.