Mourinho returns to Gelsenkirchen As Real Madrid test Schalke

The Veltins‑Arena in Gelsenkirchen will buzz on 16 August as Real Madrid arrive for a friendly against Schalke 04, a match arranged to celebrate the stadium’s 25‑year anniversary. José Mourinho, the former Porto boss who lifted the Champions League there, will be on the sidelines, adding a personal touch to the occasion.

Today, both clubs confirmed the fixture after weeks of speculation, with German media reporting the agreement on Wednesday. The game marks the first meeting between the two sides since their Champions League clashes, and it will be staged in the modern arena that opened in 2001.

For Schalke, the encounter offers a valuable test ahead of their Bundesliga return, especially after German reports indicated that striker Edin Dzeko will remain with the club next season. The presence of the Madrilenians provides a high‑profile benchmark for the German side’s preparations.

Schalke and Real Madrid previously faced each other in the round of 16 of the Champions League in 2014 and again in early 2015. Real progressed on both occasions, but Schalke secured a memorable 3‑4 victory at the Bernabéu at the start of 2015, their last head‑to‑head win.

Mourinho’s connection to the Veltins‑Arena runs deep. In 2004 he guided FC Porto to a 3‑0 win over AS Monaco on that very pitch, clinching his move to Chelsea. He later returned to Schalke twice, overseeing 0‑3 and 0‑5 victories for his teams.

The stadium itself was built as a replacement for the aging Parkstadion, featuring a retractable roof and a fully movable pitch, which earned it a reputation as one of Europe’s most modern venues. Besides the 2004 Champions League final, it has hosted matches for the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2024 and a host of world‑renowned concerts.

Schalke’s recent history has been far from triumphant; the club has never won a championship in the new arena and has spent recent seasons in the second tier. After the friendly and a cup tie against Hallescher FC, the team’s Bundesliga comeback is set to begin at FC Augsburg at the end of August.

Real Madrid will head back to Spain a week later to start their La Liga campaign at Espanyol, adding another chapter to their busy summer schedule following the German test.