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Schalke win Group B with Montpellier draw
FC Schalke 04 secured first place in UEFA Champions League Group B with a draw at Montpellier Hérault SC, who bowed out of the competition on a positive note.
René Girard had insisted his side would make the most of their final European outing this season and the French champions were as good as their coach's word. Though Benedikt Höwedes gave the visitors the lead 11 minutes after the break, Emanuel Herrera levelled three minutes later to earn Montpellier a deserved second point of the group stage. With Arsenal FC losing at Olympiacos FC, a draw was enough for Huub Stevens's men to head into the last 16 as group winners, though only some fine late stops from Timo Hildebrand preserved Schalke's unbeaten record.
Match in 5
- Schalke clinch top spot in Group B, Montpellier out
- Höwedes opens scoring but Herrera levels three minutes later
- Point ensures visitors remain unbeaten in section
- Returning Hildebrand denies Herrera at death
- Montpellier bow out without a win
Reaction
We deserved to win. We showed commitment. Now we know what the UEFA Champions League is like, I hope there will be a next time.
René Girard, Montpellier coach
We played very well. Montpellier certainly had the chances to win the game, but Timo [Hildebrand] kept us in it on a number of occasions.
Huub Stevens, Schalke coach
Lineups
 | Montpellier |  | Schalke |
| 30 | Ligali (GK) | 34 | Hildebrand (GK) |
| 3 | Yanga-Mbiwa (C) | 4 | Höwedes (C) 56 |
| 4 | Hilton 84 | 8 | Marica 77 |
| 5 | Bedimo | 10 | Holtby |
| 8 | Mounier67 | 20 | Pukki84 |
| 11 | Herrera59 | 21 | Metzelder |
| 12 | Congré | 22 | Uchida |
| 13 | Estrada | 27 | Barnetta72 |
| 19 | Camara67 | 31 | Draxler |
| 20 | Cabella | 33 | Neustädter |
| 22 | Stambouli46 | 35 | Kolasinac |
Substitutes | |||
| 40 | Valette (GK) | 36 | Unnerstall (GK) |
| 7 | Utaka67 | 3 | Escudero |
| 9 | Charbonnier | 13 | Jones72 |
| 10 | Belhanda67 | 19 | Obasi84 |
| 14 | Pitau46 | 23 | Fuchs |
| 21 | El Kaoutari | 25 | Huntelaar77 |
| 25 | Deplagne | 32 | Matip |
Coaches | |||
| René Girard (FRA) | Huub Stevens (NED) | ||
Referee | |||
| Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP) | |||
Standings
Group B
| P | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Schalke | 6 | 12 |
| 2 |  Arsenal | 6 | 10 |
| 3 |  Olympiacos | 6 | 9 |
| 4 |  Montpellier | 6 | 2 |
Legend:
- P: Played
- Pts: Points
Match statistics
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Minute By Minute
The final whistle is blown.
Ian Holyman (@UEFAcomIanH), La Mosson: Montpellier, as against Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC, will feel they should have won this game after dominating the second period. As it is, Timo Hildebrand's brilliance at the end means Schalke are Group B winners and unbeaten as they head into the last 16.- 84Obasi (in) - Pukki (out) (Schalke)
- 84Hilton (Montpellier) is booked.
- 77Huntelaar (in) - Marica (out) (Schalke)
Ian Holyman (@UEFAcomIanH), La Mosson: The hosts have certainly tried to make the most of their final outing in the competition, but lack the cutting edge which has been more in evidence in Schalke's play. Pukki should have put the visitors ahead, and Huub Stevens' men have looked dangerous, despite creating few clear chances.