Fine home record against the Royal Blues

FC Bayern go into Tuesday’s meeting with Schalke 04 at the Allianz Arena on the back of a fine home record against the men from the Ruhr Valley, as the Reds have won 31 of 44 league meetings in Munich with the Royal Blues. FCB have lost only six times, with seven games ending in draws. Munich are well ahead in the goals count with 116 for and only 37 against, and also posted a comfortable 5-1 victory in the corresponding fixture last season on 1 March 2014. This term’s reverse fixture at the Veltins Arena ended 1-1.

Last defeat back in 2010

FC Bayern also have a big lead in the overall stats for the pairing: of the 89 Bundesliga clashes so far, the Bavarians have won 45 and lost 18, with no fewer than 26 drawn games. Bayern have scored a total of 186 goals to Schalke’s 99. FCB have prevailed in seven of the last eight league meetings, as the Royal Blues’ most recent victory dates back to a 2-0 success in December 2010.

Dankert in charge

Bastian Dankert has been appointed to referee Tuesday evening’s clash between FC Bayern and Schalke 04. The 34-year-old sports scientist from Rostock takes charge of a match involving Germany’s most successful club for the second time this season: he previously whistled last October’s 6-0 home win against Werder Bremen. Dankert’s assistants are Markus Häcker and Rene Rohde, with Robert Kempter as the fourth official.