:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65102461/1126544619.jpg.0.jpg)
Initial reactions:
- Bayern played first and foremost, a good game. Very solid defensively which was encouraging to see. Hernandez had a very good game in his first match from start. Tolisso was also great, which is encouraging considering last years injury.
- The headlines will however be about the denied Schalke penalty, which clearly hit Pavard’s hand. Where was VAR?
- Lewandowski was the offensive difference. What a player. Five goals now in two games. Can he beat Gerd Muller’s record of scoring 40 goals a season? Who knows... the Polish superstar is on form to say the least.
- Fun to see Perisic and Coutinho play. Although frankly, they did not participate in the game flow too much. They probably needs more time to integrate. Nevertheless, they both look good in red.
- Encouraging game considering Bayern will need to improve their defence this year to go further in the Champions League. Judging by this performance, it looks like they have the players to improve their defensive set-up.
- MIA SAN MIA
93’— Game is over! BAYERN WINS!
92’— Alaba and Tolisso has two great opportunities. Alaba’s shot is saved, Tolisso’s flies just above the bar.
90’— Three minutes added time. This game is over.
89’— Schalke played a lot better in the second half. They should of started with this attitude. Bayern has played great though.
87’— Awesome to see Tolisso being healthy and performing. Basically a new signing this season.
85’— Münir Levent Mercan, 18 years of age, comes on for Schalke. What a day for the lad..
82’— Offside but Burgstaller had a one-on-one against Manuel Neuer. He rounded the German number 1, only to hit the post. Scenes...
80’— Five, yes five, goals in 2 games for Lewandowski. Can he break Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals this season? A record that was from 1971/72...
79’— Uh Oh, Coman was down for a bit but he looks fine.
76’— Martinez comes on for Hernandez!
75’— He is just soooooo GOOD!!! ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI ladies and gentlemen. One of the world’s best! 3-0. Effective strike from a counter. Turn, shoot, goal.
70’— More courage from Schalke from this second-half. Should of gotten atleast one penalty for their effort.
69’— How did Schalke not get a penalty? That was a clear hand-ball on Pavard. Where is VAR? This will dominate the headlines...
68’— Lots of ball possession leads to an almost threw ball to Coutinho. Nubel was there first.
63’— Yet another big chance for Schalke. Nastasic heads the ball over. More interesting game now.
61’— Free-kick in a dangerous position for Schalke. Shot is deflected by the Bayern wall. Yet another Schalke corner.
60’— Big chance for Schalke...was offside but looked dangerous.
59’— Schalke has played better after the goal. They get another corner.
58’— Kutucu has another half-chance for Schalke. His strike goes wide.
57’— Schalke should of had a penalty, it hit Pavard’s hand. How did VAR miss that?
56’— Perisic comes on for Gnabry, who has not been his best today.
56’— Coutinho comes on for Muller, who has again, had a tough game.
55’— Schalke’s corner is, again, only half dangerous. The Royal Blues complained the ball hit a Bayern hand, the referee is having none of it.
55’— Coutinho is about to come on!
54’— Half-chance for Schalke. McKennie has a shot inside the box. Schalke wants penalty after dodgy defending from Pavard. They get a corner instead.
53’— 3⁄4 of Bayern’s goals has been from direct situations.
52’— Lewandowski has scored all four of Bayern’s goals this season. Irreplacable.
51’— Schalke has a mountain to climb now.
49’— LEEEEEEEWYYYYYYYYY!!!! WHAT A GOAL!!! A FREEKICK FROM FAR OUT! what can’t that man do???
46’— Schalke are in a tricky position. Needs to create more offensively though they can’t go all out, as they most likely will get punished.
46’— We are underway here at the Veltins Arena
45’— First half is done! 0-1 for the Bavarians.
44’— Lucas Hernandez has had a solid first-half with his new club. He could be a key player.
43’— Tolisso with a great opportunity. Lovely pass from Coman, who has been good. Tolisso turns and shoots. Just wide...
41’— Half a chance again from Harit. Bad shot, Neuer saves, but Schalke are creating as much as Bayern at the moment.
40’— Again, defense is looking good. Very encouraging.
39’— Half-chance again after a run from Burgstaller. Sule does well to clear it.
38’— What does everyone think? Will we see a new-signing coming on in the second-half?
35’— Good defensive performance so far from Die Roten.
34’—40/60 in possession to Bayern.
30’— David Wagner’s Schalke has now played 120 minutes of Bundesliga football without scoring a goal.
30’— A short corner to Muller. Almost makes something out of it. Still 0-1.
29’— Tolisso does a ‘Ribery-esque’ turn around, get’s a corner.
28’— Mascarell has a try from far out. Never dangerous, but a try at least.
25’— Bayern seems in control.
23’— Liverpudlian Jonjoe Kenny is having problems with lighting-quick Kingsley Coman.
21’— Schalke needs to respond, hasn’t had a chance yet.
20’— You know who... 0-1 FOR BAYERN!! LEWANDOWSKI. Best penalty taker on the planet?
19’— PENALTY! COMAN IS BROUGHT DOWN! Clear penalty...
18’— Bayern look energised after that chance.
16’— Great header from Pavard from a corner. Magnificent save from Nubel. First real chance from Bayern.
15’— 15 minutes of continuous midfield play.
14’— Bayern has really had no chance besides the Lewandowski strike, which was a half-chance.
11’— Atmosphere is electric. Has a ‘big-game’ feel to it.
10’— Not much has happened in the last five minutes. Gritty Schalke is keeping Bayern at bay.
9— Interesting how Wagner sets up this Schalke team. Much like Huddersfield. Defensive and compact. Tries to kill out the game, can work well against bigger teams...
5’— Predictable first 5 minutes. Schalke playing defensive while Bayern dominates possession.
3’— A well worked free-kick routine from Bayern. Lewandowski had a good opportunity to create a dangerous shot. In the end, easy pickings from Nubel.
3’— Can we expect the same defensive compact Schalke that played last week against Mönchengladbach. My guess is yes.
Kickoff: The Bavarians are underway! Let’s hope for a good game! Auf gehts Bayern schieß ein Tor!!!
One hour until kickoff: What. Niko Kovac starts a back 3, with Lucas Hernandez making his first appearance for the team.
Unsere 1⃣1⃣ für #S04FCB! #packmas pic.twitter.com/2df9bMW5tu
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 24, 2019
Either that or Kimmich is in midfield, which is not ideal.
Update: Bad news, looks like Thiago is going to miss the game due to cervical discomfort.
ℹ @Thiago6 fällt aufgrund von Beschwerden an der Halswirbelsäule für #S04FCB aus. pic.twitter.com/C9NYcBKn1C
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 24, 2019
Having drawn their league opener against Hertha Berlin, Bayern Munich find themselves in an unfamiliar position. With Borussia Dortmund pulling off a win against Koln the night before, the Bavarians really need a win against Schalke to get the league campaign back on track.
Niko Kovac will have almost a full squad at his disposal, with the exception of Leon Goretzka (thigh injury), Jerome Boateng (illness), and Jann-Fiete Arp (illness), and the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Hernandez on the bench (the coach confirmed they’re not fit enough to start as of yet). Therefore, we can expect the same formation and setup as last week — a 4-3-3 with Kingsley Coman, Robert Lewandowski, and Serge Gnabry up top, supported by a midfield consisting of Corentin Tolisso, Thomas Muller, and Thiago Alcantara.
Even in the darkest moments of last season, Bayern still managed to make easy work of Schalke. Hopefully, that trend continues this year.
It’s Bayern time.
Match Info
Location: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Time: 6:30 pm local time, 12:30 pm EST
TV/streaming: Fubo.tv, Find Your Country
Tips for commenting:
- If you’re a new member, feel free to introduce yourself. Don’t feel pressured or anything, we’re
mostlyvery friendly. Also, we’re from all parts of the world so don’t feel shy if you’re from a country that doesn’t seem represented on the blog. - Refresh the page regularly to keep up with the discussion. One refresh every 55-60 seconds is ideal but if that’s too much then just try for one every five minutes and after every goal.
- The goal celebrations are for everyone to participate in. Even if you’re lagging behind the others, keep replying to the most recent call of the player’s name. Even if you missed the first call, just start from the second, and so on.
- While swearing is allowed within reason, please be polite to your fellow posters and avoid gratuitous obscenities.
Check out our beginners thread if you have any more questions. That’s about it. Auf geht’s!
Looking for an unending well of Bayern Munich content? Sign up for an SBNation account and join the conversation on Bavarian Football Works. Whether it's full match coverage and analysis, breaking news or something completely different, we have it all.