Bayern Munich Vs Schalke
Saturday 25th January 2020 – 17:30 Kick-Off
German Bundesliga
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds displayed in this article were correct at time of writing: 22nd January 2020 at 12:20)
Preview: The game of the weekend in Germany takes places inside Bayern Munich‘s Allianz Arena, as the league champions seek to close a four-point gap on Bundesliga pacesetters RB Leipzig when they host fifth-placed Schalke on Saturday evening.
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Table of Contents
Bayern Munich Preview – Rampant champs gathering title-winning momentum?
These could be ominous signs. This, after all, is a club which thrives in the second part of the season like no other in the country. Four consecutive victories in the league, scoring fifteen for the loss of only two, could well be the opening salvo in their determined pursuit of an eighth straight Bundesliga title. The latest a 4-0 hammering of Hertha Berlin on the road, notching all four goals during a blistering second-half performance as Bayern Munich approach peak form ahead of a crucial period.
In a couple weeks time leaders RB Leipzig will be in town, possibly with a healthy cushion still intact (their lead is currently four points over Bayern). All Die Roten can do in the meantime is maintain pressure on a club with no prior experience of a Bundesliga title race. Victory on Saturday, therefore, is almost imperative. Bayern won the last five league encounters with Schalke, four of which by at least two clear goals, and haven’t lost at home in this fixture since 2009 (W7 D3 since).
Bayern are now enjoying their longest winning sequence all season (previous best being two) and, according to Opta, have scored more now (50) than in any previous Bundesliga campaign. We could depend on them to score, it seems, but less so regarding the result itself, which even applies when at home. The Bavarians have already slumped to two losses in Munich so far, to Hoffenheim and Leverkusen (both 2-1), but have won six of nine there overall, which does include that 4-0 dismantling of Schalke’s main rivals, Borussia Dortmund.
Schalke Preview – Another valiant showing expected from Wagner’s Royal Blues?
Irrespective of how Saturday turns out, and a barren run of eighteen matches without recording a Bundesliga victory over their opponents suggests expectations must be reined in, this has been a productive season so far from Schalke (5th – W9 D6 L3, GF31 GA21). The Royal Blues are a team reborn under former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner, transforming their fortunes from relegation candidates in the last campaign into genuine top-four contenders – their current tally of 33 points equals the amount registered throughout the whole of 2018/19.
Even though an age has passed since their last triumphant performance at the Allianz Arena, when winning 1-0 in a DFB Pokal Cup encounter in 2011, it would be foolish dismissing their chances altogether. Last weekend was another reminder of what this team are now capable of under the tutelage of Wagner, efficiently dispatching of a Monchengladbach side that were second at the time. Second-half goals from Suat Serdar (his seventh league goal of the season) and Michael Gregoritsch sealing a comfortable 2-0 home win.
Particular emphasis should be placed on ‘another reminder’, as it shouldn’t be forgotten that Schalke remain the only team to have beaten RB Leipzig in their own backyard this term when surging into a 3-0 lead at the Red Bull Arena in September, ultimately winning 3-1. Conversely, Wagner’s men have been slightly less productive on their travels, winning precisely half these fixtures so far (W4 D2 L2) but neither of their latest two, at Leverkusen (2-1) and Wolfsburg (1-1).
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Betting Summary
With four successive Bundesliga victories behind them, Bayern Munich appear to be finding their groove. What a time to do so, with a tricky set of fixtures on the horizon. First up are Schalke, who have not beaten them in their previous eighteen attempts but can, however, take heart from a recent four-game unbeaten run (W2 D2). They are also the only side to have won on the road at current Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig – a feat not even Bayern managed.
Bayern Munich Vs Schalke – Key Facts:
- Bayern are enjoying their longest winning run in the league of the season (4).
- Schalke have lost none of their last four league matches (W2 D2), and only once in their past ten (W5 D4 L1).
- Eighteen Bundesliga games without winning for Schalke versus Bayern Munich, with the latter trumphant in each of the last five.
According to Opta, not since 2000/01 have Schalke scored as many away goals after their first eight such fixtures than now (15), firing a blank only twice. Bayern, meanwhile, are already up to 50 league goals for the term – 15 coming across their previous four matches – but have underwhelmed at the other end, particularly when at home having kept only three clean sheets there thus far. Over 2.5 Goals has delivered in eight of their nine home matches this season, as was the case in five of Schalke’s seven away from home.
Best Odds for Bayern Munich Vs Schalke
Bayern Munich – 2/11 Ladbrokes
Draw – 7/1 Betway
Schalke – 16/1 Betfair
