3-1 win over Villarreal – S04 win two friendlies in one day

Raman starts

Head coach David Wagner head split his squad up into two groups ahead of the double matchday. A number of academy players had earlier featured against Alanyaspor, meaning that the side against Villarreal featured mainly first teamers. One of those was Benito Raman, who had missed out against FC Bologna on Monday (29/7) due to a groin problem.

Burgstaller scores after a Boujellab assist

Both teams started the game with the intention of staying compact at the back. Schalke looked to press their opponents early and get stuck in too.

It took a while for the crowd in the Saalfelden Arena to see any notable action – the first moment of note coming in the 22nd minute. Guido Burgstaller gave S04 the lead after some strong work in the box from Nassim Boujellab. Benito Raman also doubled the lead two minutes later. The new signing from Düsseldorf saw his effort cleared at the last moment.

Iborra equalises

The Spanish side failed to create many chances in the first period, but suddenly took their first real one after 35 minutes. Omar Mascarell failed to completely clear the ball, Santi Cazorla reacted quickly and played the ball in behind the Schalke back four for Vicente Iborra, who made it 1-1 – which was the scoreline at the break too.

Fast goal after the break

The Royal Blues not only started the second half without any changes, they also started the half in the best possible way. Just three minutes after the ball was once again rolling, Boujellab converted a well-worked counterattack from slightly right of goal to give Schalke a 2-1 lead, with the final pass coming from Amine Harit.

The Schalke team didn’t slow down much after taking the lead and maintained control whilst gradually taking a bit of tempo out of the match, which gave Villarreal one or two chances to venture into the Schalke box. The ball could have found its way into the Schalke net in the 72^nd minute, but Alexander Nübel was able to prevent the equaliser with a fine save to deny Karl Toko Ekambi. Just three minutes later, alarm bells were ringing on the other end of the pitch as Burgstaller made his way into the Villarreal box and shot, but the effort was kept out by the Villarreal keeper. Fatih Candan, the U23 forward who was substituted on, had a chance but was denied by the offside flag.

Oczipka finishes the match off

There was one more goal to come from the Royal Blues yet. Bastian Oczipka stepped up to take a direct free-kick in the 87^th minute and slotted the ball into the right corner. The match ended in a 3-1 win for Schalke.

One week left until the season kicks off

The match against FC Villarreal was not only the final game of the training camp in the holiday area of Hohe Tauern National Park, but it was also the final dress rehearsal ahead of the opening competitive fixture of the season against SV Drochtersen-Assel in the DFB-Pokal on Saturday (10^th August) (KO 15:30 CEST). Until the showdown with the fourth-tier side, the Royal Blues will be training in Gelsenkirchen, doing some fine-tuning before the start of the season.