Burgstaller grabs six as Schalke win 20-1

Full house in Bottrop

Coach David Wagner made five changes to last Sunday’s 3-1 win in Oberhausen, with Sandro Plechaty, Marcel Langer, Jonas Carls, Levent Mercan and Steven Skrzybski replacing Jonas Hofmann, Bastian Oczipka, Benjamin Stambouli, Amine Harit and Rabbi Matondo in the starting XI.

Skrzybski scores first goal of the game

It only took three minutes for Schalke to find the net, with Steven Skrzybski pouncing from close range. 120 seconds later, Guido Burgstaller made it two, and the striker had his hat trick by the 15^th minute mark. At the other end of the pitch, the hosts almost got one back when Emre Kilic fizzled a shot from 16 yards, but custodian Michael Langer was vigilant.

Benito Raman looked to have his first strike in Royal Blue colours wrapped up, but Burgstaller’s cross was deflected in by opposition defender Nicolas Albert before the Belgian could fire home. By now, the early goal frenzy had cooled and both teams took their foot off the gas. The hosts came into the game slightly, and Schalke were punished for their somewhat lackadaisical approach in the 30^th minute, when defender Matija Nastasic pass went past Langer into his own net.

Raman in form

This curious own goal stirred the Royal Blues, who then continued the goal rout. Skrzybski got a second, assisted by Raman, before completing his hat-trick to make it seven just two minutes later. Burgstaller scored again and Rudy slotted home from the spot to continue the goalscoring spree. Raman finally got in on the action in the 41^st minute, his first goal for the club, before Burgstaller scored the best effort of the half on the stroke of half-time, a wonderful shot into the corner of the net. Schalke led 11-1 at the break.

Seven changes at the break

Sören Ahlers, Benjamin Stambouli, Görkem Can, Jason Ceka, Rabbi Matondo, Amine Harit and Bastian Oczipka came on for Michael Langer, Marcel Langer, Matija Nastasic, Levent Mercan, Fabian Reese, Steven Skrzybski and Benito Raman in the second-half. Schalke continued where they had left off, with Burgstaller scoring yet another in the 54^th minute. Substitute Harit scored four minutes later from the spot, before Rudy scored his second of the game and Jason Ceka made it 15-1. Rabbi Matondo had a great chance to score two minutes later, but missed cruelly from close distance.

Kutucu rounds it all off

Harit made it sixteen to get a brace, before Carls scored a quiickfire double, his first goals for the club. Görkem Can and Ahmed Kutcu rounded off the scoring with the game’s final goals, meaning the match ended 20-1 in Schalke’s favour. David Wagner was naturally pleased after the game: “We played at the right tempo today which I really liked. The result isn’t really that important. What I particularly liked was that we didn’t just want to play, but we also had that hunger – even against such an opponent.“

Next game on Sunday in Wattenscheid

Schalke’s next friendly takes place this Sunday. The Royal Blues face SG Wattenscheid 09 in the Lohrheidestadion, in a match kicking off at 17:00 CEST. The following week sees The Royal Blues set off on their training camp to Herzlake (16^th-19^th July), before a reunion with Ralf Fährmann on the Friday after, when Schalke face Norwich City in Lotte (KO 18:30 CEST).