Schalke 04 II vs TSV Steinbach

The only goal arrived on the stroke of half-time. In the 45th minute, a cross from the right found Nick Galle unmarked inside the box, and the centre-back directed a firm header past the Schalke goalkeeper to make it 1-0 at the break.

Schalke 04 II pushed for an equaliser after the restart and thought they had one in the 52nd minute when Yassin Ben Balla — the reigning Regionalliga West Player of the Season — stepped up to take a penalty. The midfielder's spot-kick was saved, however, and the rebound could not be turned in. Ben Balla was credited with a missed penalty on the scoresheet, while the follow-up effort also failed to find the net.

TSV Steinbach held firm through the second half to secure a clean-sheet victory, their first pre-season result of the summer.

Ben Balla's missed penalty in the 52nd minute was the game's decisive moment. Had the 30-year-old — who scored 15 goals from midfield in 2025/26 — converted, Schalke would have been level with over 35 minutes to play. Instead, the miss gave Steinbach a platform to defend deep and protect their lead, which they did without conceding a clear chance.

• Nick Galle (TSV Steinbach) — The centre-back scored the match-winner with a well-timed header at the near post and was solid defensively throughout. The 28-year-old defender, a regular in Steinbach's Regionalliga side, showed his value at both ends.

• Yassin Ben Balla (Schalke 04 II) — The French midfielder, named Regionalliga West Player of the Season for 2025/26 after scoring 15 goals, was Schalke's most influential player in possession. His penalty miss was uncharacteristic, but he remained involved in build-up play as Schalke pushed for an equaliser.

• TSV Steinbach defence — The back line, marshalled by Galle, restricted Schalke to few clear chances beyond the penalty. A clean sheet in a pre-season friendly is a promising sign for Steinbach's preparations.

Player of the Match: Nick Galle (TSV Steinbach)

The provider data shows one goal from limited chances. Steinbach's winner came from their only real opportunity of the first half — a cross that Galle converted. Schalke's best opportunity was the penalty, which Ben Balla failed to convert. The match was a typically tight pre-season affair: both sides used the game primarily for fitness, with multiple substitutions expected. No cards were issued, reflecting the friendly nature of the contest.

For Schalke 04 II, this was their fifth pre-season fixture of the summer ahead of the 2026/27 Regionalliga West campaign, which kicks off on the first weekend of August (opponent TBC). The U23s, coached by Jakob Fimpel, finished third in the Regionalliga West last season (2025/26) and have been in training since 24 June, including a training camp in Billerbeck from 2-8 July.

For TSV Steinbach, this was an early test against a strong Regionalliga West side. The Regionalliga Südwest club's preparations continue with further friendlies ahead of their own league campaign.

Both sides will take different lessons: Steinbach, that they can defend a lead against a quality opponent; Schalke, that they need to sharpen their finishing in the final third before competitive action resumes.

A narrow pre-season win for TSV Steinbach, decided by a well-taken header from centre-back Nick Galle and preserved by a penalty save. Schalke 04 II will be the more frustrated side — Ben Balla's missed spot-kick at 0-1 was the game's pivotal moment — but the friendly served its purpose for both teams as they build towards the 2026/27 league season.