Real Madrid beat Schalke 3-0 as all new signings feature in final pre-season game

Real Madrid completed their preparations for the new season with a 3-0 friendly victory over Schalke at the German club’s stadium.

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the sixth minute after taking advantage of an inaccurate pass from a Schalke defender. The Real Madrid forward raced through on goal before calmly placing the ball into the net.

Dean Huijsen doubled Real Madrid’s advantage with a header following a corner delivered by Arda Guler. Carlos Espi added a third after the break, also heading home, with Alvaro Carreras creating the opportunity after an excellent individual run.

The match was Real Madrid’s final outing before the start of their new campaign and featured all of the club’s new signings.

Ibrahima Konate started the game, while Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande came on as substitutes in the second half. The appearance was the first time Cucurella and Diomande had played in a Real Madrid shirt.

Real Madrid had taken control early in the match when Mbappe capitalised on an error in Schalke’s defence. The misplaced ball allowed him to break clear, and he made no mistake with the finish to give the visitors the lead after only six minutes.

Schalke were then punished from a set-piece. Guler’s corner found Huijsen, who rose to head the ball into the net and put Real Madrid two goals ahead.

The Spanish side completed the scoring through Espi, who met Carreras’ cross with another header. Carreras’ contribution followed a strong solo effort that created the opening for the third goal.

Cucurella and Diomande were introduced during the second half, joining a Real Madrid side that had already used Konate from the beginning. Their involvement ensured that all of the club’s new arrivals took part in the final friendly before competitive football begins.

Real Madrid are scheduled to face Espanyol on Saturday, 22 August, in the second round of the Spanish league.

Their opening-round fixture against Real Sociedad was postponed because a large number of Real Madrid players had progressed to the later stages of the World Cup. As a result, the match against Espanyol will be their first league fixture of the new season.

The victory over Schalke gives Real Madrid a winning conclusion to their pre-season programme, with the team scoring three times without conceding at the German club’s ground.