Bayern Munich is set to clash with Schalke in their upcoming Bundesliga fixture on Saturday, September 5, at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. This match comes just ahead of Bayern's midweek UEFA Champions League opener, adding an extra layer of significance to the encounter.
As Schalke gears up for this daunting matchup, they find themselves grappling with a significant squad selection crisis. Manager Miron Muslić will be without midfielder Ron Schallenberg, who is serving a two-match suspension following a red card received in their last outing against Augsburg. In an effort to fill the gap in central midfield, Satoshi Tanaka is expected to partner with Soufiane El-Faouzi.
The situation is further complicated for Schalke as team captain Kenan Karaman is a major doubt due to an ongoing hip issue. This injury could necessitate an early appearance from recent signing Hwang Hee-chan. Additionally, the hosts are dealing with multiple injuries, with key players Adrian Gantenbein, Ayman Gulasi, and Bryan Lasme all ruled out of the match. Loris Karius is anticipated to start in goal, supported by a makeshift back three comprising Timo Becker, Nikola Katic, and Hasan Kurucay.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich arrives at the Veltins Arena with a boost from the return of star playmaker Jamal Musiala. After missing the start of the season due to a neurological condition, Musiala has passed his final training tests and is expected to be included in the matchday squad, although he may start on the bench to manage his workload. Meanwhile, winger Serge Gnabry remains unavailable due to an adductor injury, which means Bayern will rely on a potent attacking trio of Michael Olise, Ismael Saibari, and Luis Díaz to support striker Harry Kane.
Bayern's defense will be anchored by veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with a backline that includes Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae. The Bavarians are currently in sensational form, having maintained a perfect start to their 2026–27 campaign. They began the season by securing the DFL-Supercup with a 2-1 victory over rivals Borussia Dortmund and followed that with a dominant 5-1 win against Stuttgart in their Bundesliga opener. Most recently, Bayern cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory against VfL Osnabrück in the DFB-Pokal.
As for Schalke, they are seeking to find consistency following their promotion to the Bundesliga. After a promising start with a 5-2 win over Hallescher FC in the DFB-Pokal, they faced a harsh reality check on Matchday 1 with a 3-0 defeat to Augsburg, compounded by Schallenberg's red card.
In terms of predicted lineups, Schalke is expected to field Karius; Becker, Katic, Kurucay; Ljubicic, Tanaka, El-Faouzi, Gosens; Aouchiche, Adamu; Sylla. Bayern Munich, on the other hand, is likely to start Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Brown; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Saibari, Diaz; Kane.
Fans in the UK can catch the action live on Sky Sports Football, as Schalke looks to upset the giants of Bayern Munich in what promises to be an exciting Bundesliga encounter.
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