Antonio Puerta Trophy
First team

SEVILLA AND SCHALKE COME TOGETHER 13 YEARS LATER TO REMEMBER ANTONIO

21/03/2019
The Antonio Puerta Trophy may well be experiencing its most symbolic edition with the visit of the German club who will always be remembered alongside Puerta's left-footed strike

The Antonio Puerta Trophy is never just another game. There have now been nine editions, each match with their own individual characteristics. Perhaps the tenth edition hasn't been the easiest to organise as Sevilla FC's demanding schedule from the start of July made it impossible to fit it in in its normal place in pre season. However, no one can deny that the game between Sevilla FC and Schalke 04 was the most asked for since the trophy began in 2009.

Málaga CF, Xerez CD, Granada CF, RCD Espanyol, RC Deportivo, UD Almería, Córdoba CF, CA Boca Juniors, AS Roma and now FC Schalke 04. The third foreign club to participate in the trophy will want to be the third trophy to take the trophy from Nervión after Granada in 2010 and Boca Juniors 2017. Even so, if there is a club and a fan base that knows how to lose in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and take it graciously, it is the team from Gelsenkirchen, who on that Thursday in 2006 gave a lesson in fair play.

 

Sevilla FC and Schalke 04 have always gone hand-in-hand since then, remembering each other on the occasion and wanting to organise a future date sooner than later. It has finally arrived, and although the international fixtures take some of the spotlight away from it, what is true is that there will be an atmosphere of fraternity like that of 13 years ago. Almost 700 Germans will be in the stands to experience the atmosphere of the game.

Both teams have had to call up players from the academy to fill the squads. Joaquín Caparrós has called up eight academy players and the twelve first-team players available, similar to that of Huub Stevens' Schalke, who has thirteen first-team players and eight academy players at his disposal. The German team is not going through its best moment who, like Sevilla, were knocked out of Europe a couple of weeks ago. Neither is the Bundesliga going well from them as they find themselves fourth from bottom, three points from the relegation zone.

All of the squad from 05/06 have been invited to the match. Unfortunately, not all of the players will be able to be there in person, but without a doubt they will be there in person, that match changed their lives as well just how it changed yours.