Uth hat-trick in comfortable friendly win against Paderborn

Manuel Baum had to go without those on international duty as well as a few currently injured players for the match against the second-division side. Frederik Rönnow started his first game for the Royal Blues, whilst Kilian Ludewig made his first appearance in a Schalke shirt.

Bentaleb misses from the spot – Pröger puts Paderborn in front

The Royal Blues were the more energetic side from the start and had the first chance of note. Benito Raman received the ball from Mark Uth in the fourth minute, but the Belgian’s effort from ten metres was blocked. Rönnow was called into action for the first time five minutes later; Kai Pröger cut in from the right and got a shot away from 22 metres to cap a Paderborn counter-attack. Rönnow dived and made the save.

The home side then had the chance to take the lead from the spot. After Mark Uth put the ball into the box from a free kick, referee Thorben Siewer correctly spotted a handball. Nabil Bentaleb took the penalty and went to his left, but Leopold Zingerle dived the right way and kept it out (11’).

The ball did find its way into the goal at the other end, however. Paderborn’s Anthony Evans put the ball into the box after a short corner, Bentaleb was unable to clear it under pressure and it fell to Pröger. The attacker gave Rönnow no chance with a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the box (13’).

Uth gets his second

The second-division side’s lead only lasted eight minutes. Bentaleb played a pass into Uth, who knocked the ball past an opponent and stayed calm to slot it into the right-hand corner (21’). A deserved equaliser.

Schalke completed the turnaround ten minutes later. Steven Skrzybski passed to Uth on the edge of the box, who danced past two defenders and fired it home off the post from 16 metres with his left foot (31’).

Rönnow a safe pair of hands – Ibisevic scores before the break

The visitors kept on attacking confidently and had one or two efforts on goal. Rönnow saved Julian Justvan’s free kick from 23 metres (34’). Evans’ long-range shot in the 39th minute as well as Pröger’s effort in the 44th minute were also kept out by the Dane.

Steven Skrzybski had the chance, meanwhile, to make it 3-1 after a great cross from Benito Raman, but he didn’t connect properly with his first-time shot. Instead, it was Vedad Ibisevic who made it 3-1 before half time. Omar Mascarell found Bastian Oczipka on the edge of the box, and the left-back sent the ball into Vedad Ibisevic in the penalty area. The striker gave Zingerle no chance from eleven metres.

Raman scores a header

The Royal Blues also dominated the game after the break, and they had the first chance of the second half within two minutes. Goncalo Paciencia, who had been introduced in place of Ibisevic, headed over from an Uth corner. Raman went one better when he headed past the SCP keeper Moritz Schulze after Uth’s pinpoint cross – 4-1 (56′)!

Baum’s side continued to dominate proceedings without having any big chances to extend the lead. Justvan tried to reduce the deficit, but he couldn’t beat Rönnow from 25 metres.

Uth gets his third

Paciencia’s 76th minute shot on goal started a strong end to the game for the Royal Blues. The Portuguese played a one-two 60 seconds later with Raman before setting up Uth from eleven metres; the striker blazed over the bar (77’). Paciencia tested Schulze once again with a shot from 25 metres a minute later.

Schalke’s fifth and final goal of the game belonged to Mark Uth. After a defender blocked Skrzybski’s effort, the ball fell nicely to Uth who sent it past Schulze from close range (81’). Nick Taitague missed his chance to get on the scoresheet shortly after his introduction (86’), as did Timo Becker (90’). The final whistle went and Schalke were 5-1 winners.

Next opponent: Union Berlin

Schalke’s next competitive fixture is on Sunday 18th October at 18:00 CEST. The Royal Blues welcome 1. FC Union Berlin to Gelsenkirchen for the fourth Bundesliga matchday.