Real Madrid Beat Schalke 3-0 in Final Preseason Friendly at Veltins-Arena

Real Madrid closed preseason with a 3-0 win over Schalke 04 on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Kylian Mbappé, Dean Huijsen, and Carlos Espí scored for José Mourinho’s side in the club’s final friendly before the La Liga season opener.

Kickoff was at 5:00pm CEST (4:00pm BST / 10:00am ET). The fixture doubled as a celebration of the stadium’s 25th anniversary — the same ground where Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 — and gave Madrid one last chance to test combinations before competitive football resumes.

Editor’s note: This article draws on match coverage from BBC Sport, beIN SPORTS, and Managing Madrid, August 16, 2026. Lineups and scorers reflect the completed friendly at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

Match at a glance

Detail	Information
Competition	Pre-season friendly
Date	Sunday, August 16, 2026
Venue	Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Kickoff	17:00 CEST
Final score	Schalke 04 0–3 Real Madrid

Goal timeline

Minute	Team	Scorer	Notes
5’	Real Madrid	Kylian Mbappé	Punished Schalke error playing out from the back; finished past Loris Karius
19’	Real Madrid	Dean Huijsen	Header from Arda Güler’s corner
56’	Real Madrid	Carlos Espí	Converted Álvaro Carreras’s cross

How the game unfolded

First half: Mbappé pounces, Huijsen heads in

Mourinho named a strong starting XI with several World Cup returnees back in the fold. Mbappé led the line from the first whistle, Ibrahima Konaté made his first start in central defence, and summer arrival Bernardo Silva partnered Federico Valverde in a double pivot.

The breakthrough came early. Schalke tried to build from the back and left Mbappé one-on-one with Karius in the fifth minute. The French striker kept his composure to slot home and give Madrid an immediate lead.

Mbappé remained Madrid’s most dangerous outlet — forcing another save from Karius after a solo run — before the second goal arrived in the 19th minute. Güler swung in a corner and Huijsen rose above the Schalke defence to head into the net.

Madrid looked compact without the ball and sharp on the counter. BBC Sport match data showed the visitors edging possession at roughly 52.5% while creating the clearer chances in the opening period.

Second half: rotations and Espí seals it

Mourinho began rotating his squad after the break. Andriy Lunin replaced Thibaut Courtois in goal and was called into action early, denying Timo Becker with an important save as Schalke pushed for a response.

The decisive third goal came in the 56th minute. Carreras drove forward down the left and delivered a cross that Espí turned in from close range. The striker has been among the bright spots in Madrid’s preseason and again made his case for minutes in Mourinho’s evolving attack.

Schalke, freshly promoted as 2. Bundesliga champions, struggled to create sustained pressure against a Madrid side that managed the lead comfortably through the closing stages.

Starting lineups and squad notes

Real Madrid XI

Courtois — Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Huijsen, Carreras; Silva, Valverde, Vinícius Júnior, Güler, Brahim; Mbappé

Mourinho handed starts to several key figures returning from international duty. Jude Bellingham was in the squad but his minutes were managed carefully after a late return to training. New signing Jan Diomandé remained on the bench despite training with the first team — a possible precaution as fitness work continues.

Madrid’s preseason had already included wins over Leganés, Ferencváros, and Deportivo La Coruña, plus a draw with Fiorentina. Sunday’s clean sheet and three-goal margin offered the most polished performance of the summer tour.

Schalke 04 XI

Karius — Kurucay, Becker, Schallenberg, Sylla, Adamu, Ljubicic, El-Faouzi, Aouchiche, Katic, Vitalie Becker

Schalke used the occasion to showcase their rebuilt squad ahead of a return to Germany’s second tier as reigning champions. Edin Džeko was among the substitutes but could not spark a comeback against the La Liga giants.

Mourinho’s final rehearsal

For Mourinho, the trip to Gelsenkirchen carried personal resonance. Twenty-two years after lifting European football’s biggest prize on this pitch with Porto, he now prepares Madrid for a new domestic campaign under his second spell in charge.

The performance checked several boxes: defensive organisation, quick transitions, and clinical finishing from three different scorers. Mbappé’s early goal suggested sharpness after his World Cup summer, Huijsen added aerial threat from set pieces, and Espí continued to impress when given opportunities in attack.

Madrid leave Germany with momentum. The competitive schedule begins in less than a week.

What’s next

Club	Next fixture	Date
Real Madrid	La Liga at Espanyol	Friday, August 22, 2026 (20:30 BST)
Schalke 04	DFB-Pokal at Hallescher	Monday, August 24, 2026 (19:45 BST)

Madrid open their La Liga title defence at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona’s suburbs. Schalke turn to cup football against fourth-tier Hallescher before their 2. Bundesliga opener at Augsburg on August 30.

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Discussion

A preseason scoreline is never definitive — but a clean sheet, three different scorers, and Mbappé starting sharply gave Mourinho more than a ceremonial win in Gelsenkirchen.

1. Mbappé scored within five minutes and looked dangerous throughout. After a late return from World Cup duty, does this performance ease concerns about his readiness for the Espanyol opener?

Mourinho managed minutes carefully across the squad; Friday’s league kickoff will be the real test.

2. Carlos Espí scored again and Huijsen added a headed goal from a Güler corner. With competition for places across the front line, which preseason performers look most likely to earn regular minutes once La Liga starts?

Espí has made a consistent case; Bellingham and Diomandé may still reshape the picture in the weeks ahead.

Share your take on whether Real Madrid look ready for the new La Liga season.