Early goals in both halves: Schalke defeat Rot Weiss Ahlen 3-0

Quintet play second game in two days

Just 24 hours after the goalless draw against FC Twente at the Parkstadion, head coach Miron Muslic named a completely changed starting XI in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Five players in the squad were also in action the previous day, though. Ayman Gulasi, who came on in the closing stages of the friendly against Twente, started in Ahlen. On the bench, goalkeeper Johannes Siebeking (second half against FC Twente) and Henning Matriciani (after 72nd minute against Twente) were hoping to make their second appearances of the weekend in Schalke’s brand-new third kit. Alongside them, Martin Wasinski and Tidiane Touré were also sat on the bench.

Sanchez and Remmert fire S04 in front

The Royal Blues started the game, which was arranged to celebrate the Oberliga side’s 80th anniversary, with a lot of attacking impetus. In the very first minute of the match, goalkeeper Justin Heekeren played a long ball over the top to Peter Remmert. The attacker attempted to stab a pass through to Pape Meïssa Ba but didn’t quite get it past the last man. The Schalke fans didn’t have to wait too long for their side’s first shots on goal, though. After four minutes, Taylan Bulut hit a strike straight at Ahlen shot-stopper Veith Walde. A couple of minutes later, Ayman Gulasi followed some wonderful individual play with a shot that was blocked in the box. Max Grüger’s subsequent effort flew over the crossbar.

The first goal of the afternoon would come shortly afterwards. After watching his own shot take a deflection and go out for a corner, Taylan Bulut stepped up to take it and whipped a venomous cross into the box. Felipe Sanchez arrived in the middle, poked a foot out and steered the ball over the line to make it 1-0 to Schalke (8’). The early goal didn’t cause the Royal Blues’ attacking work rate to drop off, though. On the contrary, Pape Meïssa Ba went close to doubling S04’s lead two minutes later, with his shot inches away from nestling in the bottom right corner. Eventually, the action down the left wing began to intensify again. Peter Remmert played a drilled pass across the face of goal after another long ball to the striker. In the box, Ayman Gulasi was a whisker away from converting the chance (12’). Remmert would try and take matters into his own hands shortly after that, driving down the left-hand side and trying his luck, only to find the inside of the post (15’). The third time was the charm for the 20-year-old attacker, though. Again, he carried the ball forward down the left wing following another long pass and produced a lovely finish into the far corner to extend the lead to 2-0 (19’).

The drinks break midway through the first half likewise didn’t break Schalke’s stride, but the second quarter of the action would get off to a bad start. Goalkeeper Justin Heekeren received on-field treatment for thigh pain and ended up having to come off, as Johannes Siebeking replaced him between the sticks (29’). The substitute shot stopper was in the right place at the right time to thwart the hosts’ only real chance of the first 45. Sergio Gucciardo let fly from around 18 yards out, but Siebeking got down and palmed the ball away from the bottom right corner and out for a corner (35’). In the meantime, Schalke had promising opportunities through Ayman Gulasi (34’), Pape Meïssa Ba (35’) and Max Grüger (43’), but the scoreline remained 2-0 to Schalke until the half-time whistle.

Grüger scores a third, but Touré forced off

Head coach Miron Muslic brought on two sets of fresh legs after the restart. Tidiane Touré and Henning Matriciani replaced Pape Meïssa Ba and Mika Khadr and were both on the pitch for the Royal Blues’ third goal of the afternoon. Again, Taylan Bulut swung a dangerous delivery into the box from a corner. Max Grüger met the cross with his head and found the back of the net to make it 3-0 (50’). A couple of minutes afterwards, Mauro Zalazar had the chance to bag S04’s fourth of the game, lining up a free kick from about 20 yards out. His effort had just a bit too much power on it, though, and flew over the crossbar.

Then, there was more bad news for the Royal Blues, as Tidiane Touré was forced off with an injury just nine minutes after being brought on. Bryan Lasme came on as his replacement (56’). The Frenchman was right in the thick of things from the outset, with the Ahlen defence bundling his shot out of play. The subsequent corner, once again taken by Taylan Bulut, didn’t cause any problems (58’). With an hour on the clock, Miron Muslic used his last substitute and brought Martin Wasinski on for Taylan Bulut (61’).

The Royal Blues’ impressive attacking prowess from the first 45 was not as apparent after the break, but they continued to create threats through individual brilliance. Mauro Zalazar sent Ayman Gulasi through with a ball over the top. Gulasi tried to take on three Ahlen defenders in the box, though lost possession at the last moment (73’). After that, the hosts threatened to get on the scoresheet twice in quick succession. First, Sergio Gucciardo got a shot off from 16 yards out that was cleared away for a corner (75’), before substitute Ben Binyamin narrowly missed out on getting one back for Rot Weiss (76’). The Royal Blues were down to ten men at this point in time, since Miron Muslic had taken Ayman Gulasi out of the action due to the midfielder picking up a knock.

The home side used the final minutes of this anniversary game to ensure that all of their players got some game time. All eleven substitutes entered the fray and looked to show Schalke what they had in their locker. Steve Noode made a last-ditch block to thwart Kadir Kosar from close range (82’). The final action of the game was Murat Keskinkilic’s free-kick which was awarded to the hosts around 30 yards away from goal. The ball took a small deflection, but the effort was saved by keeper Johannes Siebeking and, with that, referee Hendrik Rottkord blew the final whistle (90+1’).

A friendly against Sevilla on Schalke Day

There are two weeks of pre-season left for the Royal Blues before they kick off their 2025/26 campaign at the VELTINS-Arena with a clash against Hertha BSC on Friday, 1st August. Before that, S04 will mark the imminent start of the season next Saturday when the official Schalke Day takes place. Alongside the celebrations, Schalke will face off against LaLiga side Sevilla FC in a friendly at 17:00 CEST.