At the beginning of the week, FC Schalke 04 is missing four men in team training. One duo is completing an individual programme.

Three days after the wild test match at Hajduk Split in Croatia (3:4), FC Schalke 04 started the last training week before Christmas. A quartet was not with them on Monday: Jordan Larsson, Tobias Mohr, Justin Heekeren and U23 player Julius Schell currently have to sit out due to illness. This was announced by the Königsblauen on Twitter. All four were still in action in the defeat in Split on Friday.

Meanwhile, Alex Kral and Henning Matriciani missed the test match. Midfielder Kral is suffering from back problems and already missed some training sessions in the previous week. Defensive specialist Matriciani was absent due to illness. And even at the start of this week, the duo was not yet fit again. Both professionals trained individually.

Before the S04 squad around head coach Thomas Reis takes a short Christmas break, a third test match is scheduled. On Thursday evening (7 p.m., RS-Liveticker), the Revierklub will play against third-division team VfL Osnabrück.

FC Schalke 04: The preparation schedule at a glance

14-28 November: Holiday

29/30 November: Performance tests

1 December: Start of training on the pitch

9 December: 1st test – Rapid Vienna – Schalke 04 2:2

10 December: Return journey from Vienna

11 December: Rest day

16 December: 2nd test – Hajduk Split – Schalke 04 (6 p.m.)

17 December: Return journey from Split

18 December: Rest day

22 December: 3rd Test – VfL Osnabrück – Schalke 04 (7 p.m.)

23 December to 1 January 2023: Ten days’ holiday – the pros receive individual training plans

2 to 11 January 2023: Training camp in Belek (Turkey)

7 January 2023 (in Belek): 4th test – FC Zurich – Schalke 04 (3.30 p.m. local time)

10 January 2023 (in Belek): 5th Test – 1. FC Nürnberg – Schalke 04 (3.30 p.m. local time)

14 January 2023: 6th Test – Schalke 04 – Werder Bremen (3.30 p.m.)

21 January 2023: Second-round kick-off