Villarreal lose against FC Schalke 04 in their last pre-season game in Austria
Villarreal suffered their first pre-season defeat against FC Schalke 04 in their fifth friendly match, which took place in Austria.
There was a notable debutant in the starting XI, with André-Frank Zambo Anguissa wearing the yellow shirt for the first time, lining up in the middle of the pitch alongside Santi Cazorla. The Cameroonian midfielder showed his qualities by winning the ball back and linked up well with the Austrian to create chances. He played the entirety of the first half, being replaced after half-time by compatriot Karl Toko Ekambi.
The German side went ahead in the 22nd minute, when Nassim Boujellab got free in the area and gifted a goal to Guido Burgstaller, who only had to push the ball into the back of the net (1-0).
Schalke could have gone further ahead soon after, but Raúl Albiol cleared the ball of the line.
The Yellow Submarine went level in the 34th minute. Cazorla won the ball back on the edge of the area, before playing a perfect pass for Vicente Iborra to fire home. A goal full of quality (1-1, m.34).
With the second half still in its infancy, there was a new goal for the Germans. Boujellab finished a lightning-quick counter with a shot that went across Andrés Fernández (2-1, m. 46).
With the second half going on, Villarreal were finding more and more ways to find goalscoring opportunities. First of all, Toko Ekambi’s powerful shot was saved well, before Iborra was unable to find the target after a Cazorla cross.
The decisive goal to make it 3-1 came from Bastian Oczipka with a spectacular free-kick. With this result, Schalke won the Hero Cup, sponsored by Lottohelden.de. The four-way tournament was competed by Villarreal CF, FC Köln, FC Bologna and FC Schalke 04.
Hero Cup results:
- FC Köln 1-3 Villarreal CF
- FC Schalke 2-3 FC Bologna
- FC Köln 3-1 FC Bologna
- FC Schalke 3-1 Villarreal CF
Lineups:
FC Schalke 04: Alexander Nübel; Nastasic, Omar Mascarell, Serdar, Raman, Stambouli, Burgstaller, Kenny, Oczipka, Harit.
Also played: Ceka, Eggert, Firat, Candan, Lübbers.
Villarreal CF: Andrés Fernández; Mario Gaspar, Albiol, Pau, Quintillà; Moi Gómez, Anguissa, Cazorla, Iborra; Bacca, Gerard.
Also played: Toko Ekambi, Jaume Costa, Raba, Funes Mori, Trigueros, Morlanes y Leo Suárez.
Goles: 1-0. Min. 22: Burgstaller. 1-1. Min. 34 Iborra. 2-1. Min. 48: Boujellab. 3-1. Min. 86: Oczipka.
Referee: S. Eder (Austria). Booked: Burgstaller.
Matchday information: Villarreal CF’s fifth pre-season match, at Saalfelden Arena.
Fotos: FC Schalke 04
