S04 beaten by Leeds United in final pre-season friendly

The game against the historic English club, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in last season’s play-off final, took place behind closed doors due to safety concerns. It was also not permitted to report about the game prior to full time.

You can watch the full 90 minutes back on FC Schalke 04’s official YouTube channel.

Five new signings in starting XI

Head coach Karel Geraerts lined his side up in a 3-5-2 formation, just as he did in the recent friendly against FC Twente. There were five new additions in the team in the form of Ron-Thorben Hoffmann, Adrian Gantenbein, Anton Donkor, Janik Bachmann and Moussa Sylla.

Chances at both ends, but goalless first 45

It was very much a midfield battle in the opening exchanges, as both sides worked the ball around the back well. Schalke were courageous going forward and created the first opening after just 180 seconds, although the long-range shot from Paul Seguin was unable to find the target, much like Moussa Sylla’s header from a Donkor cross in the 10th minute that ended up in the side of the net.

Kenan Karaman had a golden opportunity to make it 1-0 after a quarter of an hour, but despite being put in one-on-one by Moussa Sylla, the S04 captain failed to beat Illan Meslier in the Leeds goal. Soon after, it was the turn of Ron-Thorben Hoffmann to warm up his gloves; Georginio Rutter, a former Bundesliga player with TSG Hoffenheim, tried his luck from the edge of the box, but the goalkeeper was alert to the danger and was able to hold onto the strike.

The hard-fought challenges continued in midfield as the game progressed. The Royal Blues looked solid at the back, keeping a lid on the English side’s attack that put four goals past Hannover 96 just three days earlier. Italy international Wilfried Gnonto found half a yard to get a shot away in the 35th minute, however, Janik Bachmann made a crucial block to deflect the ball behind for a corner. Less than a minute later, Mateo Joseph missed the chance to put Leeds in front, heading inches wide of the post from Rutter’s delivery.

Karaman had another attempt on goal after 39 minutes, but this one was a routine save for Meslier. Ron-Thorben Hoffmann was made to work a little harder just before the break, coming off his line sharply to smother a shot from Brendan Aaronson after the American and former Union Berlin player was played beyond the backline by Rutter.

Two headed goals

There were no changes from Karel Geraerts at the break, no did the Schalke coach make any substitutions throughout the second half. Leeds created the first chance after the restart with Gnonto again getting into a dangerous position inside the box. Hoffmann was equal to the shot though and parried it away (54’).

Leeds were upping the pressure early in the second half, and three minutes later, Daniel Farke’s side had their goal. Mateo Joseph reacted well to head the ball home at the back post after Gnonto’s cross took a deflection on its way through.

With just over an hour on the clock, Karaman came agonisingly close to delivering a Schalke response, only for his strike from 20 yards to zip the wrong side of the upright. Straight down the other end, Hoffmann had to react well to tip a Rutter effort over the top from a tight angle. The S04 goalkeeper was picking the ball out of his net soon after though. Another cross did the trick for Leeds United, this time with Rutter finding an unmarked Joël Piroe after a short-corner routine, and his powerful header found the top corner to make it 2-0 (65’).

Despite trailing by two goals, the Schalke players didn’t let their heads drop. Geraerts men played with intent in search of a goal back, but couldn’t quick pick enough holes in the Championship side’s defence. There was one final chance for Moussa Sylla after a neat pull-back form the byline by Anton Donkor, but the first-time shot fizzed narrowly wide of goal.

Opener against Eintracht Braunschweig

The 2-0 defeat was the final opportunity to test things out for the Royal Blues, as full focus now turns to next Saturday’s (03/08) opening league game against Eintracht Braunschweig at the VELTINS-Arena. Kick-off in the 2. Bundesliga’s first Topspiel of 2024/25 is at 20:30 CEST.