Goalless draw against FC Twente in new third kit

Loris Karius makes his return in goal

S04 head coach Miron Muslic continued to use a 3-4-2-1 formation for the friendly against Twente. Goalkeeper Loris Karius made his first appearance since the end of March, playing the first half before being replaced by youngster Johannes Siebeking as he made his return from injury. Eight of the 10 outfield players played the full 90 minutes, with Timo Becker donning the captain’s armband.

S04 with the better chances in the first half

Loris Karius started Schalke’s first notable attack with less than two minutes played. His long ball went over Twente’s back-line and allowed Christopher Antwi-Adjei to run onto the ball. The attacker tested out goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton from a tight angle with his shot at the near post, with the Polish shot-stopper able to get his legs in the way. Summer signing Nikola Katic had the next opportunity, heading straight at the 38-year-old from an Adrian Gantenbein cross (8’).

The Eredivisie side won a free-kick with 15 minutes played after Gantenbein fouled Bas Kuipers. Karius was able to punch Michel Vlap’s delivery clear from the six-yard box. At the other end, Antwi-Adjei combined nicely with Soufiane El-Faouzi in the box, but couldn’t find Timo Becker in the middle with his cross (19’).

Two minutes later, Twente’s Vlap headed towards goal at the back post and it was deflected onto the post by captain Timo Becker. Left wing-back Vitalie Becker was then able to clear the danger (21’). After a short water break in sweltering 30-degree heat, S04 regained control of the game, although a corner from Vitalie Becker failed to find a teammate (29’). The 20-year-old’s next set piece landed at the feet of El-Faouzi, but his volley from just outside the penalty area flew over the crossbar (37’).

Five minutes later, a quick transition followed a turnover by Ilyes Hamache – the Frenchman played the ball forward to striker Moussa Sylla, who wasted no time in getting his shot away. However, his effort missed the target by some distance. Sylla was also involved in the final attack of the first half: following a well-defended counter from El-Faouzi, he latched onto a long ball during the three minutes of stoppage time and took another shot with his right foot.

Vitalie Becker with Schalke’s best chance

Both teams remained unchanged after the break, aside from a change in goal for the Royal Blues – and it was again the same player pushing for the opening goal: after a pass from Antwi-Adjei, it was Sylla who had another opportunity to make it 1-0. This time, the Malian striker sent his shot just wide of the left post (50’). Shortly after, following another long throw-in from Antwi-Adjei and a flick-on from Katic at the back post, the ball fell to Vitalie Becker, who couldn’t make clean contact from close range (53’).

Then came a worrying moment just after the hour mark: goalkeeper Siebeking stayed down after preparing for a goal kick but was able to continue moments later. He watched on as, four minutes later, Antwi-Adjei once again targeted the tall Katic in the six-yard box from a corner, but the Bosnia international couldn’t get enough on his header.

Twente captain Ricky van Wolfswinkel had the Dutch side’s first real chance of the second half in the 70th minute, curling a shot wide of Siebeking’s goal after a pass from Mitchell van Bergen. After the second drinks break, Schalke had to make a change as the previously flawless Katic went down and was replaced in the 72nd minute by Henning Matriciani. The next chance fell to Twente’s Bas Kuipers, who threatened the Schalke goal again in the 75th minute.

Twente kept pressing, and it was Verschueren who fired a volley towards goal in the 79th minute after a cross from van Rooij. The closing stages belonged increasingly to the visitors: substitute Lucas Vennegoor of Hesselink (86’) and van Wolfswinkel (88’) both had headed chances, although Siebeking wasn’t seriously tested. At the other end, Ron Schallenberg had a final go, but his shot flew over the bar (89’). In the end, S04 kept a third clean sheet of pre-season and, just like a year ago, drew 0-0 with their friends FC Twente.

Rot Weiss Ahlen up next

Schalke’s pre-season preparations continue on Sunday (20/7) ahead of the first league game of the season against Hertha BSC on 1st August. The Royal Blues are away against fifth-division side Rot Weiss Ahlen. Kick off will be at 14:00 CEST. S04’s final friendly is next Saturday (26/7) as part of Schalke Day. The opponents will be FC Sevilla (17:00 CEST) at the VELTINS-Arena.