M. Fritz
90'
+ 3
POSITIVES FOR WAGNER
It's a little hard to believe that just over a year ago, Schalke finished runners up to Bayern in the league in 2018. They struggled through last season and have much work to do this term to get back to where they feel they should be, but David Wagner saw a battling courageous display today, and the fans appear to be behind this team. Their first goals and league win of the season cannot be far away.
90'
+ 3
ALL SMILES FOR BAYERN
So after dropping points last weekend against Hertha Berlin and seeing Dortmund come from behind to win on Friday, Bayern are off and running this season.
90'
+ 3
LEWANDOWSKIS DAY
There goes the final whistle and it's Robert Lewandowski that grabs the headlines again. A penalty, a sensational free-kick and a striker's finish were enough to send him home with the match ball.
Full-time
85'
Substitution
83'
NO HOME COMFORTS FOR SCHALKE
This will be nine home games without a win for the Royal Blues. But after such a trying campaign last season, Bayern first up at home was always going to be tough. As it is, there is a youthful energy to this side and they have competed well with the champions today.
78'
LEWANDOWSKI: SCHALKE'S SCOURGE
11 goals in his last eight matches against Schalke for Lewandowski; his first Bundesloga hat-trick against them; 18 in 21 in total against this opposition; six goals already this season. Anything else?
77'
Substitution
75'
POINTS IN THE BAG
No sooner did I write that Schalke were finding a foothold here is the game decisively taken away from them by the man of the moment, Lewandowski. Coman finds space to hare into on the right and looks up to find his team-mate on the edge of the box. The Pole takes a sublime first touch to set himself for a shot and keep the defender at arm's length, before coolly passing the ball into the corner for his has-trick.
73'
SCHALKE PUSHING
Coutinho has enjoyed some nice touches already and he'll surely be a threat on the break, but Schalke are giving this a real go. Burgstaller wants a penalty for a handball against Pavard and Omar Mascarell has a free-kick diverted away for a corner. Burgstaller then sends a header goalwards from Kenny's teasing cross.
64'
COUTINHO LUCKY NO.13?
The man on loan from Barcelona is the 13th Brazilian to play for Byern Munich in the Bundesliga.
60'
SituationNo penalty
ReviewHandball?
DecisionNo penalty
59'
Substitution
59'
KUTUCU!
Teenage striker Kutucu announced himself as a Schalke player last season with a goal at the Allianz Arena, and he tries to heave his team back into the game with a solo run and shot that goes just wide. The crowd show their appreciation for the local lad's effort, and soon afterwards the hosts almost do get one back as Burgstaller's effort is cleared off the line. However, the flag was up and it wouldn't have counted.
58'
ON COME THE BIG GUNS
Two more of Bayern's summer recruits enter the fray in Ivan Perisic and Philippe Coutinho. Not exactly what the home defence would want to face as we approach the hour mark.
57'
Substitution
57'
Substitution
57'
SCHALKE CHANGE IT UP
The home side's response to falling two goals behind is to send on Ahmed Kutucu in place of Raman. The hosts force a corner and come close to pulling one back, but the ricochet is kind to the Reds and the ball's cleared.
53'
AN UPDATE TO THE SCOREBOARD...
17 goals in 21 appearances for Lewandowski against the Royal Blues.
52'
LEWANDOWSKI HAS A DOUBLE
When the Pole stands over a dead ball, there's usually only one result - from 12 yards, at least. But this is 25 yards out after McKennie's foul on Corentin Tolisso, and Lewandowski simply curls a brlliant free-kick over the wall and into the top corner. Incredible.
51'
Substitution
46'
BACK UNDERWAY
The home side have lost more games and conceded more goals against Bayern than against any other side, so they are up against it. Will the likes of Raman and Daniel Caligiuri show more attacking intent to free up Kenny and Bastian Oczipka to attack Bayern this half? We shall see.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 1
BAYERN ON TOP BUT SCHALKE IMPRESS
The referee brings the first half to a close and the players head off to the dressing rooms. This game is yet to properly ignite, and though Bayern have controlled it in large parts, Schalke are not out of this. They made a costly error leading to Lewandowski's penalty, but their industry may just bear fruit in this game. Bayern, meanwhile, will feel they need to show a more clinical edge in the final third.
Half-time
44'
COMAN SHOOTS... WIDE!
What a good chance this is! Moments after Harit's effort, Bayern launch a raid upfield and Lewandowski, so often the man on the end of crosses, finds Coman in the box with a beautiful pass. The Frenchman controls the ball on the angle and fires a shot on the turn, but it was always swerving wide of Nübel's far post.
42'
HARIT TESTS NEUER
This is better from Schalke, and Weston McKennie in particular. The USMNT midfielder embarks on a powerful run from the halfway line, bursting past Kimmich and laying the ball left to Harit. The Moroccan takes a touch and curls one at goal from just outside the box into Manuel Neuer's hands. After showing plenty of defensive grit, the hosts are looking to be a little more adventurous.
39'
HERNANDEZ COMFORTABLE
What of Bayern's record signing Lucas Hernandez then? Well in truth he has not had to do that much defending, wth Bayern so dominant in terms of possession. The 23-year-old has swept up well and looks to have given the side good balance on the left-hand side, particularly with David Alaba to his left.
34'
MÜLLER TRIES HIS LUCK
Kimmich has made a habit of delivering excellent set-pieces for club and country and he's displayed some impressive dead-ball invention today. After finding Lewandowski early on, he sends in a low corner to the front post that's met by Thomas Müller, but the forward can only prod the ball into the side netting.
24'
THE GOALS KEEP COMING FOR LEWANDOWSKI
Make that 16 goals in 21 appearances for Lewandowski against Schalke, as well as a goal in his last nine aganst them. They must be sick of the sight of him - and not just because he used to play for Schalke's bitter rivals Dortmund.
20'
LEWY ON THE SPOT
Bayern have the lead as Lewandowski notches from the penalty spot and make it nine games in a row in which he's scored against Schalke. The penalty was awarded after Kenny's rash challenge on Coman, the Everton loanee getting his studs caught in the turf as he went to challenge the winger.
20'
20' PENALTY TO BAYERN
17'
OUTSTANDING SAVE BY NÜBEL!
Suddenly Bayern step up their intensity and a corner is won on the right-hand side. Kimmich swings the ball in and Lewandowski meets it with a bullet header tha Nübel does brilliantly to tip over the bar. The next corner comes to nothing, but the visitors look to be hitting their stride.
11'
SCHALKE SOLID
Roared on by the home fans and with a confident young 'keeper in Nübel behind them, the home side have begun the game well. Jonjoe Kenny has kept Kingsley Coman in check and Lewandowski hasn't seen too much of the ball. So far.
4'
NÜBEL INTO ACTION
The first shot on goal has been taken and it's from Lewandowski. The Pole showed some intelligent movement to meet Kimmich's free-kick on the half-volley, but his hooked effort is collected by Alexander Nübel.
1'
UNDERWAY IN GELSENKIRCHEN!
Bayern are already playing catch-up to Dortmund in the title race - will they respond here? Let's find out!
Kick-off!
WAGNER STICKS TO HIS GUNS
Last season Schalke didn't retain the same starting XI for a league game on a single occasion; this term, new coach David Wagner has done exactly that, making no changes from the side that drew with Gladbach last weekend.
LEWY ON CLOUD NINE?
How about this for a stat: Robert Lewandowski has scored at least once in his last eight matches against Schalke across all competitions, and has 15 in 20 in total. He sure likes playing Schalke.
A HAPPY HUNTING GROUND FOR BAYERN
Kenny and the rest of the Schalke defence will have their work cut out today. Bayern have won on seven of their last eight league visits to Schalke, scoring 19 and conceding just two. Meanwhie, the Royal Blues were the weakest side at home in the Bundesliga last season (15/51 points) while Bayern were the strongest away (36/51 points).
KENNY STARTS FOR SCHALKE
For the hosts, English right-back Jonjoe Kenny starts at right back witH benjamin Stambouli beside him in the middle. Guido Burgstaller leads the attack, supported by Amine Harit and new signing Benito Raman. USMNT international Weston McKennie anchors the midfield opposite the side he made his league debut against in September 2017.
COUTINHO ON THE BENCH
The Brazilian Philippe Coutinho joined the club this week from Barcelona and is set to make his Bundesliga debut today. He takes his place on the bench alongside fellow new arrival Ivan Perisic.
THIAGO MISSES OUT, KIMMICH IN MIDFIELD
Spain international Thiago Alcantara is out of this game with a back injury so Niko Kovac has shaken things up by moving Joshua Jimmich from right-back to midfield. In comes Benjamin Pavard on the right of defence, with his international team-mate and Bayern's record transfer Lucas Hernandez at centre back.
BAYERN XI
Neuer (c) – Pavard, Süle, Hernandez, Alaba – Kimmich, Tolisso – Gnabry, Müller, Coman – Lewandowski
SCHALKE XI
Nübel (c) – Kenny, Stambouli, Nastasic, Oczipka – Caligiuri, McKennie, Mascarell, Raman – Harit – Burgstaller
TEAMS ARE IN!
Here come the sides...
HELLO!
Good day to you all! We're edging ever closer to kick-off in the first league game of the new season at Schalke's world-famous Veltins Arena, and what better opposition to host than the champions, Bayern Munich!
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Schalke vs. FC Bayern from matchday 2 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the VELTINS-Arena. Check back here for full information on the match.