Confirmed: Real Madrid face Schalke in sixth pre-season friendly | OneFootball

Real Madrid have added another fixture to their pre-season schedule, with Jose Mourinho’s side set to face Schalke 04 in a friendly on Sunday, 16 August, the club confirmed.

The match will kick off at 17:00 local time at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, giving the Spanish giants another opportunity to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the new season.

Return to a familiar European Venue

The trip to Germany will see Real Madrid return to a stadium that holds fond memories for the club.

The Veltins-Arena, home of Schalke and with a capacity of 62,000, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its opening this year. It will host Real Madrid again more than a decade after their last appearance there.

Real Madrid will face Schalke at the Veltins-Arena. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Real Madrid have previously played two competitive matches at the Veltins-Arena, both in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

The first came in February 2014, when the Spanish side produced one of their most memorable European performances with a commanding 6-1 victory.

They returned to the same venue a year later and secured another win, defeating Schalke 2-0 to take control of the tie once again.

Another important test before the new season

The friendly will serve as another valuable step in Real Madrid’s preparations for the start of the competitive campaign.

Jose Mourinho continues to prepare for the new season. (Picture credit: X/@realmadrid)

It will also provide Mourinho with a further opportunity to assess his squad, continue refining his tactical plans and build match fitness in a stadium where the club has enjoyed notable success in the past.

Los Blancos have already played two training friendly matches against Alcorcon and Leganes, beating the latter 4-1 last evening.

Up next is a game against Fiorentina in Austria before the team flies to Budapest to face Hungarian club Ferencvaros.

Later on, Los Merengues will lock horns with newly-promoted La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna in the Teresa Herrera Trophy, before closing their pre-season campaign with the friendly against Schalke.