With 0:6 at Bayern Munich, FC Schalke had no chance and slipped back to the relegation place.

It was already clear after a quarter of an hour that Schalke 04 would have nothing to gain from FC Bayern Munich on this day. Bayern would stumble, it was said before kick-off, but right from the start Bayern conjured up some wonderful combination football on the pitch.

For the Schalkers, there were only two goals – firstly, not to go down. Secondly, the main thing was that no player would be missing due to a yellow suspension in a week’s time against Frankfurt. Both goals failed: Schalke deservedly lost 0:6 (0:2) – and goal scorer Marius Bülter, of all people, received his fifth yellow card.

How did it happen? The score was already 0:2 in the 37th minute when Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui set off on a sprint to pick up a pass. Bülter tugged at his jersey, a clear yellow card. Many Schalke players went into shock: coach Thomas Reis, because he had not spared Bülter like the other endangered Schalke players. Bülter himself shook his head, as did his teammates and many fans, who remained silent for a few moments.

But it was not only in this moment that the Schalkers seemed frozen. At no time during the game were they able to follow Bayern adequately. Reis’ man-to-man defence rarely worked because, for example, left-back Jere Uronen lost every duel, every running duel against Leroy Sané, resulting in repeated overtime situations.

Tom Krauß had great difficulties in the midfield duel against Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich, captain Danny Latza could hardly keep up either. Bayern showed their best performance since coach Thomas Tuchel took office. They created five huge chances in the first 20 minutes alone. Serge Gnabry failed to beat S04 goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow (9th) and missed a cross only because he stepped into the ground (13th). Kingsley Coman shot the ball past Schwolow, but hit S04 defender Sepp van den Berg, who was on the goal line (11.). Thomas Müller failed in his first attempt at Schwolow (14.), Jamal Musiala flicked just past the right post (18.).

The overdue 1:0 came after a cross pass from Sané, which Schalker Alex Kral could not clear in the five-metre area. Müller, celebrated by the Bayern fans, pushed the ball into the left corner. Schwolow was powerless. The second Bayern goal was the result of a foul by Cedric Brunner on Musiala in the penalty area. Referee Robert Schröder did not see it at first, but decided after video evidence. Kimmich denied Schwolow – 2:0. That was the score at the break, and the Schalkers were very well served. The Bayern fans among the 75,000 spectators sang: “Only the FCB will be German champions!
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