Real Madrid have ended their pre season campaign on a high note after recording a convincing 3-0 victory over Schalke at the Veltins Arena on Sunday, with Kylian Mbappé, Dean Huijsen and Carlos Espí finding the net for José Mourinho’s side.
The result gives Madrid valuable momentum ahead of their first competitive fixture of the new La Liga campaign against Espanyol next weekend. More importantly, the performance offered Mourinho encouraging signs that his squad is beginning to develop the balance and attacking sharpness required for what promises to be a demanding season.
The match also provided Madrid supporters with an opportunity to see several of the club’s major names and summer additions together for the first time. Mbappé returned to action and immediately reminded everyone of his goalscoring quality, while Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella and record signing Yan Diomande were among the players involved as Mourinho continued to shape his squad.
Madrid wasted little time taking control of the contest.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the sixth minute, taking advantage of a defensive mistake from Schalke before keeping his composure to beat goalkeeper Loris Karius.
The French superstar showed excellent anticipation to intercept the loose pass before moving into the penalty area and calmly finishing. It was exactly the kind of ruthless moment Mourinho will want to see from his leading forward once competitive football begins.
Mbappé was particularly lively during his time on the pitch, constantly looking to stretch Schalke’s defence with his pace and movement. His return was therefore one of the biggest positives for Madrid, especially after he had been given time to recover following his summer break.
The visitors doubled their advantage in the 20th minute when Dean Huijsen rose highest inside the Schalke penalty area to head home from an Arda Güler corner.
The young defender displayed excellent timing and power to direct his header beyond Karius, giving Madrid a comfortable 2-0 lead before the half hour mark. Güler’s delivery was equally impressive, providing another demonstration of the Turkish midfielder’s ability to create danger from set pieces.
Schalke attempted to respond, but Madrid remained composed and controlled large periods of the first half. Vinícius Júnior was involved in several attacking moves, while Trent Alexander-Arnold offered his usual creativity from the right side.
The German hosts struggled to consistently penetrate Madrid’s defence, with Thibaut Courtois providing security behind a backline that included Huijsen and new signing Konaté.
Mourinho made several changes after the interval as he looked to give more players valuable minutes before the start of the season. Mbappé was withdrawn at half time, with Carlos Espí entering the game.
The youngster quickly justified his introduction.
Espí completed the scoring in the 57th minute, heading home from Álvaro Carreras’ cross to make it 3-0.
The goal was another encouraging moment for Madrid’s young players, with Espí demonstrating excellent movement and composure inside the penalty area. Carreras’ delivery was precise, allowing the forward to attack the ball and leave Karius with little chance.
Madrid continued to dominate after the third goal and could have added further strikes. Vinícius appeared to have found the net later in the match, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Mourinho used the second half to examine several combinations, including giving new arrivals more time to adapt to his system. Diomande made his much anticipated Madrid debut, while Cucurella also made his first appearance for the club. Jude Bellingham was another notable second half introduction.
The friendly was therefore about more than simply securing another pre season victory. Mourinho had the opportunity to assess his squad against a Schalke side that has returned to the Bundesliga and was determined to give its supporters a memorable occasion.
For Madrid, the biggest positive was the overall organisation of the team. The players pressed with greater intensity, moved the ball efficiently and looked increasingly comfortable in Mourinho’s system.
The Portuguese manager will nevertheless know that pre season success must now translate into competitive performances.
Real Madrid have gone through a major transformation during the summer, with several new players joining an already talented squad. Mourinho’s biggest challenge will be finding the right balance between established stars and new arrivals while ensuring that the team develops a clear identity.
The 3-0 victory over Schalke provides an encouraging foundation.
Mbappé’s return to the scoresheet, Huijsen’s confidence at the back, Espí’s emergence and the first appearances of several new signings have given Madrid supporters plenty to look forward to.
The attention now turns to La Liga.
Real Madrid will begin their official campaign away to Espanyol on August 22, where the friendly victories will no longer matter and Mourinho’s team will be judged by competitive results.
For now, however, the message from Madrid is clear.
The pre season is over, the squad is taking shape and the pursuit of trophies is about to begin.
Final Score: Schalke 0-3 Real Madrid
Goals: Kylian Mbappé 6′, Dean Huijsen 20′, Carlos Espí 57′.
