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Schalke had a very poor season and now they want to repeat the one from two years ago when they finished as runners-up right behind Bayern. The Bavarians naturally have champions’ ambitions although both them and Schalke have started the new season with draws. Last season Bayer won in Gelsenkirchen by 2-0 and in Munich by 3-1.

Schalke 04

Victory in the first round of the DFB-Pokal was quite expected as Schalke faced lower-league team so the final 5-0 didn’t surprise anyone. The first Bunesliga round had brought a much more serious opponent as they had to go to M'gladbach. Borussia was a better team on the pitch but in the end the result read 0-0 and it could be said that Schalke won a valuable point. Just like in the DFB-Pokal they managed to finish the match with a clean sheet, and it seems that new manager Wagner has made a good move when he switch to formation with four defenders.

Schake played last season with three stoppers and it didn't bring them much good. They played with Kenny at the right flank, who immediately imposed himself and earned place in the starting line-up. Out of newcomers Raman also played in the mid-field, while third reinforcement stopper Kabak is injured. Forward Uth is also injured, some players are on their way out from the club and therefore the starting line-up will likely stay the same.

Probable lineups Schalke 04: Nubel – Kenny, Stambouli, Nastasic, Oczipka – McKennie, Mascarell – Caligiuri, Harit, Raman – G. Burgstaller

Bayern Munich

Against all expectations Bayern didn’t win in the first round. The reigning champion faced Hertha at home and they envisaged a sound victory at the beginning of the new season, however, they had plenty of problems in that match which ended as 2-2 draw. Bayern took the lead after Lewandowski scored but then in just two minutes received two goals and nervousness crept into their ranks. Lewandowski equalised but from penalty while after Bayern failed to score the third goal. The Super Cup match revealed many flaws in the way how the Bavarians function as they lost to Borussia in Dortmund 2-0. Away match with Cottbus in the first round of the DFB-Pokal wasn’t much better.

Bayern won by 3-1, meaning they received a goal in that match. They haven’t brought strong enough reinforcements in time, except defenders Pavard and L. Hernandez, although they recently brought two borrowed players. Those are Perisic from Inter Milan and Coutinho from Barcelona and now this is a different story since Bayern with two of them is far stronger. It is perhaps still too early for them to play from the first minute but we expect to get a chance in the course of match. Compared to the first round Tolisso could move on the bench and J. Martinez on the pitch, while Goretzka and Arp are injured.

Probable lineups Bayern Munich: Neuer – Kimmich, Sule, Pavard, Alaba – Alcantara, J. Martinez – Gnabry, T. Muller, Coman – Lewandowski

Verdict:

Schalke pulled off a draw in M’gladbach and that has raised their self-confidence but this rival is far stronger. It is very questionable can this Schalke parry Bayern, despite fact that the guests don’t play particularly well. Still, they have brought strong reinforcements and we expect that Bayern wins, perhaps even without much trouble.

Pick: Asian Handicap -1 Bayern Munich 1.58 - 58/100 @1XBet