BERLIN, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Schalke secured the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League ahead of schedule, following the late winner by Christian Fuchs at the fifth matchday in group B at Gelsenkirchen Arena on Wednesday.
From the kickoff, home side Schalke controlled the proceeding on the pitch as Olympiacos made no move to stage any offensive actions.
With ten minutes into the match Schalkes Lewis Holtby ensured the first highlight of the match when he rattled the bar with a long-range effort from 20 meters.
Nonetheless the visitors denied playing whereas Schalke's bunch of efforts remained fruitless and short on accuracy until the break.
After the restart Schalke started where they left off as they dictated the pace on the pitch against Olympiacos that lurked for promising counterattacks.
The visitors nearly flabbergasted the "Knappen" as Paulo Machados long-range effort presented Schalke goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall with a problem at the 72nd minute.
Five minutes later Schalke's Christian Fuchs had cut a better figure as his long-range strike from 31 meters ensured the Germans a berth in the round of sixteen. The Germans needed 27 shots on target to finally beat goalkeeper Roy Carroll.
However, Schalke sit on top of group B followed by Arsenal, Olympiacos FC and Montpellier.