Schalke impress in 2-0 training-camp win over FC Kharkiv

Two changes to the starting XI

Head coach Miron Muslic used Schalke’s third friendly of pre-season to continue gradually increasing his players’ minutes. The starting XI therefore played for an hour in front of 2,000 spectators in Kematen. There were two changes from the side that began against FC Erzgebirge Aue, with Adrian Gantenbein replacing Hasan Kuruçay in defence and Satoshi Tanaka coming into midfield in place of Ron Schallenberg. Muslic then changed the entire team for the final 30 minutes, introducing 11 fresh players. All 24 members of the squad wore the new home shirt against Kharkiv.

Lively start from the Royal Blues

S04 pressed Kharkiv high up the pitch from the outset and repeatedly forced the Ukrainians into mistakes in possession. Adrian Gantenbein had the first attempt after four minutes, although the right-back’s long-range effort was well off target. Captain Kenan Karaman came much closer two minutes later, forcing Yaroslav Protsenko into his first save with a low shot towards the near post from a tight angle. Moussa Sylla then tested the goalkeeper from the opposite side after being played through by Karaman (8’).

Schalke continued to control proceedings and did a good job of snuffing out Kharkiv attacks before they could develop. Junior Adamu had the next chance after an Adil Aouchiche free-kick, but the winger was unable to generate enough power with his header (14’). Kharkiv threatened for the first time a minute later, although Loris Karius comfortably held Baton Zabergja’s effort after the forward had driven in from the right.

The tempo dropped slightly midway through the first half, although Schalke remained the more threatening side in possession. Kenan Karaman found Adil Aouchiche on the right-hand side of the penalty area in the 32nd minute. The attacking midfielder skipped past his man with a neat piece of skill before powering an effort towards goal, but Protsenko punched clear. Four minutes later, Karius was called into action at the other end, getting down well to keep out Oleksandr Yatsyk’s curling effort towards the bottom-right corner.

S04 threatened again shortly before the break. Mertcan Ayhan cut out an attack on the edge of his own box and immediately found Aouchiche on the left. After taking a couple of touches, Aouchiche crossed for Sylla, who controlled the ball on his chest before sending a volley goalwards (45’). The striker did not make clean contact, however, and the sides went into the break goalless.

Schalke make the breakthrough after the break

Moussa Sylla continued to threaten at the start of the second half, but Ilya Krupskyi denied him on the left inside the box (47’). Schalke’s number nine then got his goal in the 54th minute. Adil Aouchiche won the ball back around 20 yards from goal, allowing Junior Adamu to take possession and quickly square for Sylla. The Mali international kept his cool in front of goal and beat Yaroslav Protsenko with a left-footed finish to put S04 1-0 ahead.

Having made the breakthrough, Schalke soon added a second. Shortly after head coach Miron Muslic had changed all 11 players, the Royal Blues struck again. U23 player Edion Gashi sent Bryan Lasme racing through, and the forward used his pace to get away from the Kharkiv defence before finding the bottom corner to make it 2-0 (64’).

A number of stoppages disrupted the flow of the game after the second goal, but Schalke remained on top. The Royal Blues won a free-kick in a promising area near the penalty area, which Luca Vozar whipped dangerously into the middle before a deflection took the ball out for a throw-in (82’). Two minutes later, Bryan Lasme picked out Christian Gomis, whose shot was also blocked.

Luca Vozar drove into the penalty area again with five minutes remaining before being stopped by a defender, taking a shove in the back in the process. The youngster was able to continue after a short spell of treatment. There were no further chances at either end, however, and after three minutes of stoppage time Schalke were able to celebrate a deserved 2-0 victory.

Another friendly in Austria

The Royal Blues will play another pre-season friendly during their training camp on Saturday (25/7), when Miron Muslic’s side take on Japanese top-flight club Fagiano Okayama at 16:00 CEST. The game at the Silberstadt-Arena in Schwaz will be Schalke’s third friendly in the space of seven days.