Bayern cement top spot with victory at Schalke

FC Bayern beat Schalke 2-0 on Saturday to end the year on a winning note. Serge Gnabry handed Bayern the lead before half-time and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting found the net early in the second half. Jamal Musiala set up both goals and turned in an impressive display in his 100th competitive fixture for the German record champions.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernández in a back four. Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala, Gnabry, Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman featured in midfield, with Choupo-Moting up front. Matthijs de Ligt, Josip Stanišić, Marcel Sabitzer, Paul Wanner and Ryan Gravenberch took over from Sané, Hernández, Sabitzer, Coman and Musiala in the second half.

Gnabry opens

The 62,271 crowd in Gelsenkirchen saw a tight first half with Bayern dominating possession and Schalke solid at the back and looking to strike on the break. Coman and Sané put their efforts from distance off target before Neuer denied Marius Bülter at the other end.

Gnabry saw a header blocked and Choupo-Moting drew a fine save from keeper Alexander Schwolow but Bayern broke the deadlock when Musiala's cunning back-heel found Gnabry, who smashed home. Another Gnabry chance was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle as Munich went into half-time a goal to the good.

Choupo on target

Sané fired wide after the restart but Bayern soon doubled the lead on the break, Musiala inviting Choupo-Moting to slot past Schwolow and crown a textbook counter. Bayern had the ball in the net for a third time when Musiala wriggled his way past two defenders and rounded Schwolow, only for the linesman to raise his flag.

Musiala drew another save from Schwolow but chances were thin on the ground at both ends as the match petered out, with Bayern bagging three points in the last match of the year.

The result takes Bayern onto 34 points from 15 matches, six clear of RB Leipzig, who have moved up to second overnight. A large number of Bayern players will be with their national team at World Cup before the Reds return to action on 20 January to take on Leipzig.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen