Real Madrid crush Schalke in friendly as Yan Diomande debuts
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Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande (left) and Schalke’s Vitalie Becker vying for the ball during a friendly football match on Aug 16.
PHOTO: AFP
Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid eased to a 3-0 win at Schalke on Aug 16 in their final friendly, with Kylian Mbappe on the scoresheet and record signing Yan Diomande playing for the first time.
After going two seasons without a major trophy, Madrid appointed veteran Mourinho for a second spell in charge and made a slate of signings this summer to overhaul the squad.
French superstar Mbappe, playing under Mourinho for the first time, intercepted a poor back pass and fired home in the sixth minute to send the 15-time European champions ahead.
Dean Huijsen headed home the second from Arda Guler’s corner as Madrid took full control against their German opponents.
Half-time substitute Carlos Espi nodded home Madrid’s third in the second half, before €140 million (S$207 million) Ivory Coast winger Diomande and England international Jude Bellingham also joined the fray from the bench.
Elsewhere, Spanish champions Barcelona recorded an entertaining 5-2 victory at Basel in a friendly as summer signing Anthony Gordon played for the first time since his switch from English Premier League club Newcastle.
Another new arrival, Karim Adeyemi, put the Catalans ahead after being teed up by Raphinha, but youngster Jean Doucoure slammed home before the break to level for the Swiss.
Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim restored Barca’s advantage early in the second half after Adeyemi fed him.
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (left) in action with Basel's Coleen Louis in Basel, Switzerland, on Aug 16.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Lamine Yamal, making his first appearance since winning the World Cup with Spain, tucked home a penalty for the third after Jules Kounde was fouled.
Kazeem Olaigbe netted from the spot for Basel before Barca substitute Jesse Bisiwu, signed from Club Brugge, hit a brace in a late but electric cameo.
Barcelona have one more friendly to play, at home against Egyptian side Al Ahly on Aug 19, before their La Liga season begins at Elche on Aug 23. AFP
