Bayern Munich make title statement with dominant win over Schalke
Serge Gnabry hit a brace as Bayern Munich maintained their advantage at the top of the Bundesliga thanks to a 6-0 win over Schalke on Saturday.
Bayern 6-0 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Müller 21' (assist: Sane), 2-0 Kimmich pen. 29', 3-0 Gnabry 50' (assist: Cancelo), 4-0 Gnabry 65', 5-0 Tel 80' (assist: Musiala), 6-0 Mazraoui 90'+2 (assist: Mane)
With Borussia Dortmund breathing down their necks, Bayern were looking to cement their place at the top of the table against a Schalke side hoping to add distance between themselves and the bottom three at the other end of the standings. Bayern quickly imposed themselves on proceedings at the Allianz Arena and were almost in front on 10 minutes, but Kingsley Coman's effort was superbly blocked on the line by Sepp van den Berg. Gnabry was inches from tapping home moments later before Thomas Müller was denied by Alexander Schwolow, with a Bayern opener feeling increasingly inevitable. Their pressure finally told when Müller caressed Leroy Sane's cushioned pass into the far corner. Joshua Kimmich soon added a second from the penalty spot after Jamal Musiala was felled in the box, putting Bayern firmly in command.
It left Schalke with a major task on their hands at the start of the second half, if they were to salvage anything from the match. And they were set even further back within five minutes of the restart as Joao Cancelo turned his man inside out before squaring to Gnabry to apply the finish. Gnabry hit his second, and Bayern's fourth, with 25 minutes to play before substitute Mathys Tel added a fifth and Noussair Mazraoui a sixth, ensuring a comprehensive win for the league leaders. The result means Bayern will be retain their title if Thomas Tuchel's side can win their remaining two matches. As for Thomas Reis' team, they slipped back into the bottom three thanks to Bochum's 3-2 win over Augsburg.
Match stats
- Müller has scored 12 times in 20 outings against Schalke - only against Wolfsburg (13) has he scored more.
- Bayern have netted 18 of their 19 competitive goals since Tuchel took charge with Müller on the pitch.
- Kimmich's spot-kick was just the second of his professional career. His first, which he also successfully converted, came against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League last month.
- By scoring for the 12th and 13th time in the Bundesliga this term, Gnabry - who has found the back of the net in each of Bayern's last three league games - is now just one goals behind his single-season best return of 14, which he set during the previous campaign.
- Leon Goretzka made 147 appearances for Schalke, including 116 in the Bundesliga. His club and country teammate, Sane, also represented the Royal Blues 57 times in all competitions and scored 13 goals for the club.
- Bayern have won all of the duo's last 10 league meetings with a cumulative goal difference of 38-2, and each of the last six without conceding while scoring 28 times themselves.
Get Müller for your Fantasy team for 16.5M!
Watch: Müller: "I'm convinced we'll win the title"
Teams
Bayern: Sommer - Mazraoui, Pavard, de Ligt (Upamecano 85'), Cancelo - Kimmich (c) (Goretzka 71') - Sane, Müller, Musiala (Mane 85'), Coman (Gravenberch 64') - Gnabry (Tel 71')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Blind, Sarr, Pavlovic
Out: Choupo-Moting (knee), Davies (thigh), Hernandez (knee), Neuer (broken leg), Stanisic (muscular)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Schalke: Schwolow - Brunner (Yoshida 46'), van den Berg, Kaminski, Uronen (Ouwejan 86') - Latza, Kral - Karaman, Krauß (Drexler 64'), Bülter (Skarke 64') – Frey (Polter 64')
Unused subs: Langer, Greiml, Zalazar, Terodde
Out: Balanta (knee), Fährmann (thigh), Jenz (thigh), Heekeren (cruciate ligament), Kozuki (ankle), Matriciani (precaution)
Coach: Thomas Reis
Play Bundesliga Predictgor now!
Watch: Tuchel: "It's in our own hands"
Related news
Bundesliga top scorer's race
Kane leads the way so far this campaign, but there is a wealth of attacking talents ready hot in pursuit...
Bochum file protest against Union result
The Matchday 14 fixture was delayed after Patrick Drewes was struck on the head by an object thrown from the stands.
How do Bayern and Leipzig stack up?
Bayern take on recent rivals Leipzig in their final game before the winter break. The record champions vs. the young pretenders - how do they compare?