Aydin scores only goal in friendly win against Verl

Experience in goal, youth on the bench

The oldest player in Schalke’s squad, Michael Langer (39), started in goal. By contrast, Peter Remmert, 20 years his junior, began up front alongside the more experienced Sebastian Polter. Head coach Karel Geraerts’ bench consisted of academy players, including some new faces from the Knappenschmiede in Kelsey Owusu Aninkorah-Meisel, Yannick Tonye, Tim Schmidt and Seok-ju Hong.

Aydin on the scoresheet in the first half

There were few chances to speak of at either end in the opening 15 minutes, with most of the play coming in the middle of the park or out wide. The two teams enjoyed a short drinks break after 18 minutes, during which Tobias Mohr received some treatment after unfortunately receiving the ball to the face from a yard or so away.

Mohr was then substituted off and replaced by Vitalie Becker (21’). A few minutes later, the first clear-cut chance of the game saw Schalke take the lead. After Peter Remmert was tackled on the edge of the box, the ball fell to Sebastian Polter and he played it to Mehmet-Can Aydin to his right. The 22-year-old then hit a shot through the legs of the goalkeeper to open the scoring (24’).

Goalkeeper Langer showed what he’s capable of in the 37th minute. He initially beat away a powerful shot from the edge of the box and then comfortably held the rebound attempt by Dominik Steczyk to ensure S04 led at the break.

Langer preserves the lead

The Royal Blues were unchanged for the second half. For Verl, their number 11 Steczyk was again dangerous after the break, dribbling into the box and forcing Langer into another fine save for a corner (61’).

Just a couple of minutes after Langer once again impressed, Amin Younes came close to doubling Schalke’s lead. S04’s number 8 attempted to curl one into the far corner and only narrowly missed the target.

Geraerts made his second change in the 68th minute, bringing on German youth international Max Grüger for Leo Greiml. Seven fresh Knappen came on for the final 12 minutes in the form of Bulut, Barthel, Osmani, Mesel, Hong, Schmidt and Tonye.

Schalke once again had their goalkeeper to thank for denying Verl with seven minutes left to play. After initially parrying a shot from 20 yards out, Langer got up in time to push the ball to safety ahead of the onrushing attacker Eduard Probst on the line. The Austrian ultimately did enough to keep his clean sheet, and referee Yannick Rupert eventually blew the full-time whistle after three minutes of injury time.

Utrecht up next

Schalke’s next pre-season friendly will take place on Friday (19/7) at the club’s training ground. The opponents are FC Utrecht from the Netherlands. The game will kick off at 13:00 CEST and no fans will be in attendance due to the Taylor Swift concert at the VELTINS-Arena in the evening. The club will be showing the game live on YouTube.