Bayern Munich 3-1 Schalke: Initial reactions and observations

INITIAL REACTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS:

• Bayern deservedly got the three points today. They dominated possession throughout the whole match and were a constant threat to Schalke’s defence. The gap between Bayern and Dortmund has now decreased to 5 points, which was the goal before today’s game.
• That being said, Bayern’s defence, especially the slow legs of Hummels and Boateng, looks so vulnerable against sides that possess pace. Schalke did not have a single chance before their equaliser, yet Bayern’s defence looked lost and Kutucu had the composer to level the game after a counter. Bayern’s defence is the reason why Bayern has had such difficulty in maintaining leads this season. Today, it did not matter, but it very easily could have. Before Gnabry’s deciding goal, Schalke could have easily drawn level, and the game would have looked differently if McKennie had not been denied by the post.
• James was good today, he looked creative and contributed with clever and precise passing.
• Ulreich was very good today. His saves kept Bayern in front in the second half. Ulreich is a great second-choice goalkeeper.

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92’— Three points for Bayern!

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88’— Davies is coming on for Gnabry.

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86’— Since the goal, there has not been a clear-cut chance. Bayern has deliberately slowed the game down and will see this out.

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85’— Overall, Bayern deserves the three points. It’s not been a perfect game, but Bayern has been the better of the two sides for a majority of the game.

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82’— Looks like it’s going to be a 5-point gap between Bayern and Dortmund.

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77’— Martinez comes on for James. He’s had a good game ! Sensible from Kovac, defensive midfielder on for an offensive one.

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75’— Lewandowski is once again unable to punish Schalke after a defensive mistake from Tedesco’s men. Could of had a hat-trick today!

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75’— Lewandowski has a sitter after a fantastic James pass, how did he miss that?

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73’— Mark Uth comes on for 18-year-old Kutucu. Good game from the young lad.

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67’— Ribery comes on for Coman.

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66’— Bayern has had 67 per cent possession so far.

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65’— Ribery will soon be on the pitch.

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62’— Sudkurve has sung from the top of their lungs for 62 minutes, fantastic support tonight!

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61’— Bayern are so vulnerable defensively. They have dominated this game but still lets Schalke have great opportunities, this won’t do against Liverpool!

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60’— Schalke has been unlucky so far in the second half. They had two great chances to equalise the game, but Bayern’s effectiveness in-front of goal has put them two goals behind.

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57’ — TOOOOOOOOOR! Bayern are two goals up! Lewandowski goes for the spectacular with a scissor kick but does not hit it properly. Gnabry is first on the rebound ball and finishes it well with h

is heads! 3-1

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56’— Schalke has not dominated the play in any type of way, but has had more chances than Bayern today. Ulreich is the reason why they are not on level terms.

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54’— BRUMA HAS ANOTHER SUPER CHANCE! What a save from Ulreich!! He is having such a good game! Bruma has a header on target after a Schalke corner.

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53’— HUGE CHANCE FOR SCHALKE! Konoplyanka has a shot on goal, Ulreich does a brilliant save! McKennie gets the rebound but it hits the post, what a chance!

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50’— Bayern are moving the ball from side to side, dominating the second-half so far.

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49’— If Bayern does not lose tonight, it will be a 17-game unbeaten streak against Schalke.

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47’— Hummels and Boateng are so vulnerable against sides who possesses great pace, Sule needs to play against Liverpool.

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46’— Open game in the first, Bayern needs to be cautious with Schalke when they are on the counter attack and on set-plays.

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INITIAL REACTIONS AND HALFTIME OBSERVATIONS:

• End to end stuff at the Allianz Arena, Bayern look fairly comfortable and dangerous while in possession; however, Schalke’s big chances and goal has come from the counter where Bayern looks as vulnerable as ever.
• We’ve seen Bayern up by half-time before and still drop points. A strong second-half is needed if Bayern wants to limit the gap between them and Dortmund.
• Alaba has been terrific. He goes forward whenever he can and often he creates a dangerous situation.
• James has been good as well, he’s linked up with Lewandowski a few times and deserves an assist.

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45’— James went for goal, yet never dangerous for Fährmann who has it covered.

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44’— Caligiuri earns a yellow card. Bayern has a dangerous free-kick.

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43’— Bayern looks fairly comfortable, but we’ve seen this before. A strong second-half is needed in order to get the three points.

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40’— Both Kimmich and Alaba plays very high up the pitch while Bayern is in possession.

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38’— Schalke keep losing the ball to Bayern in the final third which will lead to a goal sooner or later.

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36’— Boateng and Hummels are playing so high up the pitch, Bayern are left so vulnerable when Schalke gains possession.

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35’— Konoplyanka has a shot on goal, great save from Ulreich. Schalke has another good chance, Bayern are so vulnerable on the counter!

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34’— Quite harsh from Tedesco to substitute Rudy in the 33rd minute as he is not injured or anything, but he has been quite terrible.

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33’— Rudy has been awful, and he is being substituted now. Mascarell on!

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32’ — Weston McKennie has a dangerous chance, cleared by Thiago on the goal-line

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31’— If people ask you why you love the Bundesliga, tell them to put on this game. Fantastic 30 minutes for football lovers!

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30’— James has a shot on goal, nice save from Fährmann

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29’— Tedesco must be livid, inexperienced from his team.

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26’— TOOOOOOOOOOR!!!! Schalke gives away possession and Lewandowski takes full advantage, he doesn’t miss those! 2-1!

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25’— GOOOOAL!! 1-1 - Goal from nowhere, first start from Kutucu and he thanks Tedesco with a brilliant finish. The boy is 18, what a moment for him! Game on!

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24’— Bayern has gone short two corners in a row, planned by Kovac?

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23’— Schalke defending with 11 men at the moment

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20’— Alaba has had a fantastic first 20 minutes

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18’— Schalke are being run over by Bayern so far

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17’— Gnabry has a big chance after a pass from Lewandowski, should of scored!!

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16’— 2-0 looks likely, no big chances but Bayern are looking dangerous every time they attack.

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15’— Bayern has been guilty of complacency this season, especially at Allianz Arena. That cannot happen today. They are back in the title race with a win.

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14’— Alaba gets a dangerous cross that Fährmann handles very well. Alaba has been superb going forward. All Bayern.

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13’ — Doesn’t matter who scores the goal, lucky. Bayern seems energised after the result in Signal Iduna Park

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11’— TOOOOOOOOOOR!!!! Was that on purpose? pass from James to Lewandowski who gets lucky as Jeffrey Bruma knocks it in. Own goal! Bruma’s first start in the Bundesliga!

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10’— Bayern dominate possession, but not a chance since the Alaba shot.

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9’— Schalke has only scored 24 goals in the league this season, pressure is really on their defence tonight.

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6’— Alaba has a good shot that goes outside, again dangerous from Bayern. Positive start!

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5’ — Chance for Bayern and James, Schalke leg in the way. Dangerous.

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3’ — Alaba crosses to Lewandowski who doesn’t get a good contact on it, comfortable for Fährmann.

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3’— James has a free-kick opportunity, but is cleared comfortably by Schalke

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2’— Sudkurve is on FIRE! SCHALA LA LA LA LAAAA BAAAAYERN MUNCHEN!!!

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2’— Great tackle from Boateng to ensure Schalke does not go on the counter

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1’— Nearly 8 years since Schalke won against Bayern

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1’— No love lost between the two sides of course, energy is high on the stands

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1’— Feel this can be a very big evening, a glimmer of hope is in the air!

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1’— KICKOFF IN MUNICH! Bayern has the chance to decrease the gap to Dortmund today, Auf geht’s BAYERN!!

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One hour until kickoff: Lineups are out!

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It’s matchday! This time around, Bayern Munich face a visit from Schalke 04. After the loss against Bayer Leverkusen the week before, Niko Kovac cannot afford any more dropped points in the title race. However, with Liverpool looming, injuries seem to keep piling up around him.

Arjen Robben, Corentin Tolisso, and Manuel Neuer are confirmed to be out, and Thiago Alcantara is doubtful for the game. That’s already a long list. Since the game against Hertha Berlin in midweek went into extra time, it’s possible that some additional players may need to be rested, like David Alaba and Kingsley Coman. Rafinha is around to cover at left back, while Kovac has plenty of options to cover for Coman on the wing.

Despite all this however, it’s still going to be a delicate balancing act between choosing the best lineup and resting players. Thomas Muller vs James Rodriguez will be the big one — James just played 120 minutes against Berlin, but he needs the minutes because Muller is going to be suspended against Liverpool. Let’s see how the coach deals with it.

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

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

TV/streaming: Fubo.tv, Find Your Country

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