Bad weather causes an early finish – S04 lose 4-2 to FC Midtjylland

21 players feature – only Hoffmann plays the full game

Just like in the first friendly at Velbert and in the tournament at Meppen, the Royal Blues set up with a 3-5-2 formation. Karel Geraerts once again gave minutes to a number of players, using 21 overall. Only goalkeeper Ron-Thorben Hoffmann played the full game. New signing Felipe Sanchez didn’t feature. The 20-year-old centre-back, who has only trained once with the team, watched the game from the bench.

FC Midtjylland, who are currently at a training camp in Kaprun, are further along in pre-season than Schalke. Thomas Thomasberg’s team begin their title defence on 19th July away at Aarhus GF and then play a Champions League qualifier shortly after that.

Sylla scores his sixth goal of pre-season

Schalke put in a focused performance in the first half and looked to get the ball forward too. Despite that though, the reigning Danish champions had the first chance. After they won the ball back in midfield, Aral Simsir dribbled into the box, twisted and turned the S04 defenders and then shot aiming for the near post. Ron-Thorben Hoffmann in the Schalke goal was on hand to keep it out (9’).

Hoffmann’s opposite number was beaten for the first time shortly afterwards. A long ball forward by Paul Seguin found Moussa Sylla as he beat Midtjylland’s offside trap. His initial shot was saved by Elias Rafn Olafsson, but Sylla collected the rebound and rounded the goalkeeper to open the scoring (16’). It was the striker’s sixth goal in pre-season already.

FC Midtjylland fought back five minutes after Sylla’s goal. A long diagonal ball from the left picked out Ola Brynhildsen on the right wing. He cut back onto his left foot and beat Hoffmann to equalise. The two did battle again two minutes later, but Hoffmann got the better of him this time, saving his right-footed attempt (23’).

At the other end, Derry John Murkin passed to Kenan Karaman, who drove inside on his right foot and then struck the ball over the bar (27’). A minute later, Sylla dispossessed Ólafsson a few yards out, but the goalkeeper saved his resulting shot.

FCM’s goalkeeper did concede a second goal in the first half though. Anton Donkor won possession on the edge of the box and passed to Sylla. He drove down the left side of the box and then picked out Paul Seguin just inside the area. The midfielder placed the ball past Ólafsson with a composed finish to make it 2-1 (36’).

Danish champions turn the game around

Schalke made no changes for the start of the second half, unlike their opponents. Karel Geraerts made his substitutions just after the hour mark, while the Midtjylland boss Thomasberg made 10 alterations at the break.

Midtjylland’s new-look side started well and equalised again in the 54th minute. August Priske got the goal from close range after a pass from Mikel Gogorza. The Knappen almost regained the lead straight away. Anton Donkor put the ball across the six-yard box and it fell to Moussa Sylla. His attempt was blocked by the goalkeeper Olafsson.

FCM took the lead for the first time in the 61st minute. Tomas Kalas was adjudged to have fouled a striker from a free-kick and the Danish side scored from the spot via Alhaji Kamara. Mikel Gogorza increased their lead six minutes later. Hoffmann initially made a good save from August Priske, only for the loose ball to fall to Gogorza and he made no mistake.

Schalke tried their best to get a third goal, however Midtjylland were compact and kept things tight. The game was ended prematurely in the 82nd minute as referee Arnes Talic took the teams off due to the bad weather, thus protecting the safety of the players and fans in attendance.

Another friendly to come in Austria

The Royal Blues will play another side involved in Champions League qualifiers on Saturday (13/7). Dynamo Kyiv, runners-up in Ukraine last season, are the opponents at Stadion Mittersill (16:00 CEST).