Schalke 04 secured a comfortable 0-5 win over MSV Duisburg on Saturday afternoon, with goals from Johannes Geis, Franco di Santo, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Matija Nastasic and Leon Goretzka doing the damage.
Duisburg and Gino Lettieri were hoping to kick-start their season in this game and made two alterations to the side that lost 3-0 at VfL Bochum. James Holland replaced Martin Dausch, while Simon Brandstetter started in place of Kingsley Onuegbu. For Schalke and their fans, it was a chance to hand out competitive debuts to new signings. Franco di Santo, Johannes Geis and Junior Caicara were all handed that chance.
Huntelaar gives Schalke an early lead
Schalke were ahead within three minutes of André Breitenreiter's first game in charge, although none of the new faces were involved. A brilliant pass from Julian Draxler found Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and the forward burst down the right before sliding across to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The Dutchman wasn't going to miss from just a few yards out and converted to ease any fears of an upset early on.
The Royal Blues continued to push forward and Huntelaar was handed a chance to grab his and Schalke's second. Draxler, who looked to be back to his old self, sped away down the left hand side and unselfishly squared for his team-mate but his effort was poor and easily stopped by Michael Ratajczak.
Penalty saved but the visitors soon make it two
Dominance wasn't converting to chances, though when Schalke couldn't create them Duisburg obliged by handing them a penalty. Branimir Bajic was given his marching orders for hauling down di Santo in the box, as he picked up his second yellow in four minutes. The Argentine forward dusted himself down but saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by a full-stretch Ratajczak to keep alive the hosts' slim hopes.
That moment of joy was to be short lived, and Schalke scored a deserved second in the lead up to half-time. Geis' corner was on the money and found Matija Nastasic rising highest in the area. The Serbian flicked it towards the back post and managed to find the back of the net, as the ball nestled just inside the woodwork.
Geis turns on the style, di Santo
Geis was soon to switch from provider to scorer, as Breitenreiter's men turned on the style just before the break. He took aim from 25 yards out and swerved a free-kick past Ratajczak. The Duisburg 'keeper was left for dead with the movement on the ball, and Schalke had effectively killed the tie with the last kick of the half to make it three-nil.
The visitors didn't stop there and were back attacking within a few moments of the restart, playing some nice one-touch football around the box. It was some more clever play that saw Huntelaar break clear of the Duisburg defence. At full stretch, however, he couldn't quite get enough purchase on the ball and Ratajczak was able to save.
There was no saving di Santo's attempt in the following minutes, as their new striker made no mistake from 12 yards. A corner was only half cleared by the home defence and fell kindly for the former Werder Bremen man who rifled the ball into the back of the net and took off to celebrate with the joyous Schalke support.
Goretzka seals the win
That really did end the game as a contest and both sides were more than happy to keep the ball whenever they got it to avoid any unnecessary injuries. One more goal was to fall the way of Schalke and it was Leon Goretzka who grabbed it. He grabbed a goal on his comeback from a long time out with various problems to seal the deal, confidently dispatching the ball from the edge of the box.
Schalke now advance to the second round and will be itching to get their season underway, although Duisburg look destined for a tough relegation battle back in the 2. Bundesliga.