Bayern made it eight wins and eight clean sheets on the bounce with a deserved 2-0 victory away to Schalke on Sunday, ensuring a perfect return to his former stamping ground for Manuel Neuer, and opening up a two-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga by reversing the scoreline from the corresponding fixture last season.
The 61,673 full house at the magnificent Veltins Arena saw a cagey opening from both teams, before Mario Gomez’ deputy Nils Petersen marked his starting debut for Munich with the opening goal midway through the first half, a lead the Bavarians preserved through to half-time despite a spell of Schalke pressure. The visitors were much the better side after the restart and Thomas Müller stabbed home his first goal of the season with 15 minutes to play, leaving the league leaders to cruise to the finish.
Bayern’s fifth win in six league fixtures this term means Jupp Heynckes’ men move onto 15 points, two clear of Bremen and Mönchengladbach at the top of the standings. The next fixture is another tough one on paper, next Saturday’s home Bundesliga meeting with fellow Champions League hopefuls and coach Jupp Heynckes’ previous club, Bayer Leverkusen.
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