Polter, Lasme and Topp score in 3-0 friendly win over Spelle-Venhaus

Debuts for several players and our new away shirt

Several players were able to make their Schalke debuts in front of a soldout crowd at the Getränke-Hoffmann Stadion, including goalkeeper Marius Müller, midfielders Ron Schallenberg and Paul Seguin (all in the starting XI) and Bryan Lasme (subbed on at half-time). The Royal Blues also donned their new away shirt for the first time, which features the club name prominently across the front.

Polter scores the first goal of pre-season

The hosts, who were promoted to the Regionalliga Nord just weeks before, started brightly. After just two minutes, Tom Winnemöller sent a header crashing off the top of the bar, with SCSV looking to attack often.

The Royal Blues began to take over control in the 10th minute, with Sebastian Polter coming close after a cross from Seguin, but his header went just wide of the left post (19’). A minute later, Blendi Idrizi had a long-range shot sail just over the net. Keke Topp also broke past two defenders to race into the box, but his shot landed squarely in the arms of goalkeeper Mattis Niemann.

New signing Seguin, who recently joined from Union Berlin, was unlucky to not be able to poke the ball past Niemann from close range after Polter sent a pass across the face of goal (27’).

With five minutes left to play in the first half, Idrizi was unlucky to flash a shot just wide of the goal. The Royal Blues were able to celebrate shortly after, as Polter headed in a corner from Thomas Ouwejan to open the scoring (43’).

Lasme scores on his debut

Reis made nine changes at half-time, with only Idrizi and Topp remaining on the pitch. Both sides continued to seek out opportunities to attack in the opening minutes, with Spelle looking to beat Michael Langer with long-range efforts. Dominick Drexler then missed the target with a volley (49’).

New signing Bryan Lasme doubled Schalke’s advantage in the 56th minute with his debut goal for the side. The Frenchman powered home a shot from 16 metres out, after Simon Terodde had chested down a lob from Drexler. Lasme nearly netted a second just minutes later after a cross from Tobias Mohr, but SCSV goalkeeper Bernd Düker was able to get to it (62’).

Spelle nearly managed to get one back in the 65th minute, but Artem Popov wasn’t able to connect fully with the ball. Down at the other end, it was Lasme who once again had the crowd on the edge of their seats, as his shot from just inside the box went slightly wide of the right post (68’).

Langer was forced to make a save in the 73rd minute, with Mohr having blocked the initial shot and the rebound looking like it would dip over the head of the S04 ‘keeper. Three minutes later, Topp sent a shot crashing off the crossbar. He would get his goal in the dying minutes of the game, heading in from close range after a chipped assist from Lasme to wrap up a 3-0 win for the Royal Blues.

Next friendly in Bocholt

Schalke will face another Regionalliga side in their second pre-season friendly on Thursday (6/7, 18:00 CEST), when they come up against 1. FC Bocholt. Two days later, head coach Thomas Reis’ side will leave for training camp in Mittersill.