August 5 2017

Christian Benteke

Crystal Palace ended their pre-season with a 1-1 draw against German side FC Schalke 04.

Frank de Boer opted to start club legend Julian Speroni in goal, and also picked young Belgian Jason Lokilo who also started against FC Metz.

Andros Townsend had Palace's first chance to score on 2 minutes when he cut inside and his curling shot was well saved by Ralf Fährmann in the Schalke goal.

20 minutes later Townsend found himself in a similar position, but his shot was a lot tamer and was easily saved.

On 27 minutes Palace were fortunate not to go behind, when Scott Dann played a slightly awkward ball to Speroni, and his clearance struck midfielder Amine Harit and went narrowly past the post.

Shortly before half time the visitors were ahead when Bastian Oczipka's whipped cross found Pablo Insua in the box, and his header found the bottom corner.

Five minutes after the restart and Palace almost went 2-0 behind - American midfielder Weston McKennie found the former Spurs player Nabil Bentaleb in the box, but his volley went over.

However on 62 minutes the Eagles were level - Patrick van Aanholt slipped in Zaha on the left, and his teasing cross was only parried by Fährmann straight into the path of Christian Benteke, who had the easiest of diving headers to make the score even.

⚽️ The moment @chrisbenteke levelled the scores! pic.twitter.com/kWunh3TMXc

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 5, 2017

The Belgian striker should have made it 2-1 to the home side on 84 minutes when van Aanholt's through ball found him one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was blocked.

Palace next play Huddersfield at home next Saturday in their opening game of the 2017-18 Premier League season.

Palace: Speroni, Milivojevic, Dann, Reidewald (Tomkins 81), Townsend (Ward 70), Puncheon, Loftus-Cheek, Van Aanholt, Zaha, Lokilo (Lee 79), Benteke. Subs not used: Hennessey, Schlupp, Husin, Ladapo.

Schalke: Fahrmann, Kehrer (Howedes 46), Stambouli (Goretzka 60), Naldo (Geis 60), Insua, Caligiuri, Bentaleb, Oczipka (Coke 60), Harit (Meyer 60), Burgstaller, Reece (McKinnie 46). Sub not used: Nubel.