Balanta debuts for S04 in 6-0 friendly win against SG Wattenscheid 09

Éder Balanta made his Royal Blue debut just hours after having put pen to paper on a loan deal with the club. The defensive midfielder has been loaned out from Club Brugge until the end of the season, and was subbed on in the 59th minute of today’s friendly.

Thomas Ouwejan and Leo Greiml (who returned to the matchday squad for the first time this past weekend) were both in the starting XI for the first time in several months after recovering from injury. Alex Král and Rodrigo Zalazar, who celebrated their comebacks from off the bench against Köln on the weekend, were also able to pick up valuable match practice. Marouane Balouk, Daniel Kyerewaa, Joey Müller and Steven van der Sloot from the U23s were also able to feature.

Frey opens the scoring

The Royal Blues started well and enjoyed some good chances early on. Michael Frey came close with a header when he got on the end of a Zalazar cross (4’), before Ouwejan tried his luck from distance (16’). Moments before, Karaman had a chance after a good ball from Mehmet Can Aydin.

Schalke eventually found the break through after 22 minutes, when Frey converted a spot-kick, which was awarded after a foul on Karaman. Wattenscheid had the chance to equalise just after the half-hour mark, but Kim Sané, brother of Leroy, failed to get the better of  Michael Langer when he was through on goal (34’). Schalke broke directly after the chance and Tobias Mohr was presented with an opportunity after some good link-up play between Frey und Král. The 27-year-old, however, fired it over. The final chance of the half fell to the Regionalliga side, but Felix Casalino hit the post and the score remained 1-0 (39’).

Five goals after the break

Shortly after the break, Karaman had the opportunity to make it 2-0, but his attempt flew wide of the target. Balouk also had no luck initially. His shot in the 57th minute was clawed off the line. The next chance resulted in a goal, however, with Karaman the scorer. The attacker successfully headed home a Ouwejan corner (58′). Not 120 seconds later, Balouk scored goal number three for the Royal Blues. After an interception the U23 player beat his opposite man before successfully finishing.

The 20-year-old Belgian, who plays for Schalke II in the Regionalliga, was also involved in the fourth goal. He provided the ball in from a corner which was nodded in by Marcin Kaminski (79’). The goal for 5-0 was also a header, with Balouk on hand to covert a Tobias Mohr cross. In the 83rd minute, Joey Müller missed the chance for Schalke’s sixth goal, with his header hitting the post. Schalke reached a half dozen shortly after though, as Karaman converted after good work in the build-up from Balouk.