It has been a season of contrasts for Schalke so far. The club is in the UEFA Champions League and started the campaign with a 1-1 draw against FC Porto this past week. But they have lost all three of their league games so far in the Bundesliga, and on Saturday host reigning champion Bayern Munich in what looks to be a mismatch.
- Bayern Munich has won six games in a row across all competitions.
- Schalke has conceded two goals in all three Bundesliga games played so far.
- Schalke has won just five of its last 36 matches against Bayern Munich.
Schalke vs Bayern Munich Game Center
Bayern continues winning streak
Right now, Bayern looks to be nigh on unstoppable, in any competition, by any opponent. Having sauntered to the Bundesliga title last term, they have made a perfect start to this year’s title defence as well as making a winning start to their UEFA Champions League campaign.
Bayern Munich has scored three goals in each of its three Bundesliga games played so far, but had to settle for two in midweek when it came to continental competition. Goals from Renato Sanches and Robert Lewandowski gave Bayern a comfortable 2-0 win over Benfica in Lisbon, and new coach Niko Kovac has made an excellent start to life in the Bayern hot seat.
It will therefore be of very little surprise that Bayern comes into their latest domestic encounter, away to Schalke, as the clear favorite to make it four wins in as many games at the start of the campaign. Visiting Bayern is at -334 to take all three points, with home side Schalke out at +750 to get their first points on the board this term. A draw is priced in the middle at +450.
A season of struggle for Schalke
Despite qualifying for the Champions League last season, this looks to be shaping up as a season of struggle for coach Domenico Tedesco and his Schalke players. The club remains pointless this season despite a relatively straightforward start – those defeats have come against Wolfsburg, Hertha Berlin and Borussia Monchengladbach.
There was, however, a point for Schalke in the Champions League in midweek as they drew 1-1 with Portuguese outfit FC Porto. The Germans had taken the lead through Breel Embolo before the visitors struck back via the penalty spot.
However, we are very much expecting business as usual as far as Bayern is concerned this weekend. A comfortable 3-1 win for the reigning champions is priced competitively at +1000, and would maintain that streak of three goals per game domestically.
Meanwhile, OVER 2.5 goals in the game comes in at -154 while you can back both teams to score at +100. Schalke may well get on the scoresheet but is unlikely to be able to hold an attacking force such as Bayern at bay for the entire 90 minutes.
Bayern to make a quick start
In their latest league win over Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern made a lightning start, with Corentin Tolisso giving them the lead inside 10 minutes. We fancy the same to happen here and you can back OVER 0.5 goals in the first 10 minutes at a price of +300 – Bayern is at +500 to be ahead within that time frame.
Everything we have seen from Kovac and his Bayern side so far this season suggests that they will get forward at every opportunity. We therefore think that backing Bayern to score in both halves, at a price of +100, would be a sensible bet to make.
And, as ever, Bayern will look to Robert Lewandowski to provide them with goals. The Polish forward, who did not score against Bayer Leverkusen, is at -225 to find the back of the net against Schalke, while you can back him at +187 to score either the first or last goal of the game.
And despite their poor start to the season, Schalke should start climbing the table soon – they simply have too much class not to. They are at +175 to finish the season in the top four, but do not expect that recovery to get underway just yet.
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