Bayern Munich cruise past Schalke 2-0

FULLTIME: SCHALKE 0-2 BAYERN MUNICH

Bayern worked hard for the win, but they were never challenged by Schalke in this one. The 2-0 victory moves Bayern back to the top of the table, while Schalke languishes in last place with zero points after four matches. Will they pull the plug on the Tedesco experiment in Schalke?

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87’- Sanches comes on for James.

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83’- Gnabry comes on for Ribery.

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79’- Kovac makes his first sub bringing on Wagner for Lewandowski.

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73’- Tedesco brings on Burgstaller for Uth. Kovac has yet to make a substitution.

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65’- GOAL BAYERN! 2-0! LEWANDOWSKI!

Lewandowski converts the penalty after Schöpf fouls James in the box. Then, Tedesco takes off Di Santo for Harit.

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58’- The roof at the Veltins Arena is closed, but at least someone is staying warm.

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54’- Schalke make the first sub of the match bringing on Bentaleb for McKennie. McKennie was fouled by James as both players went for the ball, and James kicked McKennie at full force right in the shin. He was carried off and in a lot of pain. Hope he’s not too hurt.

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50’- OH JAMES! Some sweet Bayern passing unlocks Ribery inside the Schalke penalty area. He squares a pass to James right in front of the Schalke net, and all the Colombian has to do is touch it into the back of the net.. AND HE MISSES! Oh my.

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46’- KICKOFF FOR THE SECOND HALF

Bayern are off the races in the second half here. Can they get another before any substitutes are brought on? Javi Martinez and Renato Sanches were warming up at halftime.

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HALFTIME: SCHALKE 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH

Bayern will go into the half pleased with their performance. They held up against a ferocious Schalke crowd without really letting the hosts get a great look at Neuer. Let’s see what the second half will bring.

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43’- Caliguiri is shown a yellow card for a hard tackle. Studs into Goretzka’s boot.

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40’- Ribery forces a save out of Fahrmann after cutting inside. Things have slowed down and quieted down a bit.

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32’- Naldo slides through Goretzka getting the ball and the man earning a yellow card, and the Schalke players and fans explode in anger again. It’s getting feisty. Wow it’s loud.

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30’- It’s all Bayern so far after the first half an hour, and they lead 1-0. Schalke get a good opportunity there with Uth crossing in for Di Santo, but he’s unable to get on the end of it.

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29’- A wild sequence just unfolded. Hummels had a terrible pass intercepted by Uth, but Hummels immediately won the ball back with a hard tackle and no foul called. Then, Lewandowski gets tripped up in midfield for a foul, and the Schalke fans EXPLODE in anger. It’s loud. Very loud.

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25’- STUNNING SAVE BY FAHRMANN! Wow. James is one on one with the Schalke goalkeeper, and his deft chip is swatted away by a sliding Fahrmann. The score remains 1-0 to Bayern.

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20’- The match has been very physical yet very fluid so far in this first 20 minutes. Bayern are doing well to keep Schalke stalled out in the midfield. When Bayern have the ball, Alaba and Kimmich are playing just wide on either side of Thiago, and Schalke are struggling to get past them on the counter.

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16’- Schalke get a shot! Di Santo streaks down the right side, but Hummels bodies him wide... and Neuer easily saves.

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13’- Schalke supporters shout for a penalty, believe that Süle went over the top of Embolo and fouled him. However, the referee waved to play on.

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9’- BAYERN MUNICH GOAL! JAMES RODRIGUEZ!

James jumps on the end of a Kimmich corner and heads it into the ground and past Ralf Fahrmann to give Bayern the 1-0 lead.

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7’- Ribery and James combine out wide and James’ pass is just out of the reach of a sliding Goretzka for what would’ve been a nice shot on target.

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6’- Bayern combines for some slick passing at the top of the Schalke box, but Muller sends his shot WAY over the goal!

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4’- Great cross into the box from James nearly finds Hummels, but it’s cleared out for a corner. Schalke clear out the ensuing corner, but Bayern capture the ball and recycle the attack.

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1’- Kickoff!

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Five Minutes Until Kickoff: The Schalke fans are in full voice today. The Veltins Arena is rocking! Schalke have zero points after three matches to start the Bundesliga, so they normally would be looking at this as a must win game. However, when you have to go up against Bayern Munich, you can’t really consider it a must win game this early in the season. They’ll take a point. Or a good performance, maybe.

Bayern will look to continue the impressive start to the season. We just hope *knocks on wood* that we don’t see any injuries coming out of this one. Coman, Tolisso, and Rafinha are already out hurt. Let’s stop this nonsense.

AUF GHET’S BAYERN!

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LINEUPS!

Bayern:

The Bayern app gave out this lineup as the 4-1-4-1 with Thiago anchoring the midfield by himself and Goretzka and James just in front of him. Expect Goretzka and Thiago to swap shuttling roles throughout this one allowing the other to get forward at times.

Schalke:

Schalke start two former Bayern players in Sebastian Rudy and Alessandro Schöpf.

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Sometimes, a football fan must wonder what his club did to anger the fates that control this universe. In the case of the Schalke faithful, this impending visit from Bayern Munich should arouse such thoughts. Having lost Leon Goretzka to the Bavarians this summer, now they stand to lose their dignity.

Niko Kovac is expected to show Domenico Tedesco no mercy, as Bayern come in with a squad that has won six games in a row, scoring 17 goals and conceding just 2. Every player that traveled to Lisbon with the team is fit, including the likes of Thiago Alcantara, James Rodriguez, and Serge Gnabry. However, the highlight of this fixture will be the clash of the former players — Sebastian Rudy and Leon Goretzka, and the resulting midfield battle that should occur. Who will come out on top? Can Tedesco reverse Schalke’s last 8 years of misfortune against the Bavarians?

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Time: 6:30 pm local time, 12:30 pm EST

TV/streaming: Find Your Country

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