3-1 friendly defeat to SV Meppen

Two debuts in the first half

Head coach Frank Kramer once again gave minutes to 22 players, making 11 changes at half time just like in the previous three friendlies. There were two debuts in the first half. Cedric Brunner, who joined from Arminia Bielefeld earlier this week, started at right-back, whilst Tobias Mohr appeared for the first time since joining from Heidenheim. Maya Yoshida, another new signing, didn’t feature.

Drexler opens the scoring, Meppen come from behind

The visitors had the first shot in front of 2,999 fans at a sold-out Parkstadion. Ex-Schalke man Marvin Pourie hit one from outside the box straight at Alexander Schwolow (7’). S04’s first opportunity came after just over a quarter of an hour. Victor Pálsson headed an Ouwejan corner over the bar.

Cedric Brunner came close to the perfect start in Schalke colours in the 22nd minute. He drove a shot from the right just past the far post after being set up nicely by Polter. Away goalkeeper Jonas Kersken was involved for the first time after 30 minutes. He punched away Danny Latza’s shot after the ball eventually ended up at him from an Ouwejan cross.

The next attack led to the opening goal for Schalke. Latza’s brilliant ball in behind found Marius Bülter and he drove back inside from the byline. His cross then found Dominick Drexler at the near post and bundled it over the line to make it 1-0 (32’). However, it took the third-division side just three minutes to respond. Pourie headed home from a cross from the left wing to make it 1-1. Luka Tankulic then had a volley saved by Schwolow for SVM (40’).

At the other end, Sebastian Polter was inches away from making it 2-1. Marius Bülter flicked on an Ouwejan corner at the near post, however Schalke’s new number 40 couldn’t connect at the back post. Instead, Meppen took the lead right on the stroke of half time. Luka Tankulic converted a Dombrowka cross for their second goal (43’).

Stunning goal from Blacha

Marvin Pieringer, one of the 11 new players for the second half, had a chance right away. He volleyed a corner over the bar from inside the box (47’). 10 minutes later, David Blacha produced a stunning strike from outside the box that looped over Ralf Fährmann into the far corner for Meppen‘s third goal.

Florent Mollet called Mathis Harsman into action in the 66th minute with a long-distance shot. Meppen’s substitute goalkeeper was equal to the Frenchman’s effort. Schalke were pushing forward in search of a goal, however the away side, who are further along in their pre-season preparations, were compact and didn’t allow Frank Kramer’s side many openings.

Blendi Idrizi had S04’s next bright moment. The Kosovo international dragged an effort wide on his left foot. Rodrigo Zalazar, scorer of Germany’s Goal of the Month for May, also put one past the post shortly afterwards. It therefore ended 3-1 to the visitors.

Two friendlies in Austria

Following a busy week which included two friendlies – Schalke defeated SC Verl 1-0 three days before this Meppen game – the S04 players will have Sunday off before they travel to the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern in Mittersill for an eight-day training camp on Monday (11/7).

S04 will play two friendlies during their time in Austria, both against sides from Serie A. The first opponent is US Salernitana on Wednesday (13/7) at 18:00 CEST in Wörgl. The Knappen will then take on Udinese three days later (16/7) in Mittersill – a kick-off time is yet to be confirmed.