Harry Kane scolded referee Robert Schröder because of the quick final whistle, while Schalke's supporters celebrated the surprising point win like a German championship. “Take the lederhosen off Bayern,” shouted Joshua Kimmich and Co. after the Munich team couldn’t get past a 0-0 draw against the passionately fighting Royal Blues.
74 percent ball possession, 11-0 corners for Bayern - but Schalke threw themselves into every shot, every duel - and thus prevented the eleventh Bundesliga defeat against Bayern in a row. Even the return of national player Jamal Musiala couldn't prevent Bayern's small setback.
On what may be his last return to his old home, Manuel Neuer congratulated his counterpart Loris Karius on a strong performance. “We had three great chances, he (Karius) thwarted them. That was the key to us not winning this game. Otherwise, what the statistics say, everything speaks in our favor,” said Neuer on Sky.
Neuer: “I enjoyed it”
Neuer felt a bit melancholy, after all he assumed that this was the last time he played a game in the Veltins Arena. «It's always nice to come back here. I played for this club for 20 years, learned everything here, grew up here. My family was there. A win would have been good. Some of the family will be happy about it and say: That's okay. I enjoyed it today."
There was a celebratory mood on Schalke's side after their first Bundesliga home game in more than three years. Every duel and every defensive action was enthusiastically applauded. «I'm enjoying it. I couldn't have imagined it being more beautiful. Everyone here ran the extra meter. We always doubled, almost tripled. You can only do that if you want to go over the limit. We did that,” said Schalke’s former international Robin Gosens.
And in times of need there was an outstanding Karius in goal who returned the praise to his colleagues: “It was great for me. All I had to do was scream, “Next, further, up, back.” Hats off to what the boys did there. They took away so much and made things difficult for Bayern. The boys worked until it was no longer possible. This is who we are, this is what sets us apart. Today everyone can be proud of their achievements.”
Whistles for Neuer
Even before the game started, the focus was on FC Bayern's personnel. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was whistled and chanted during the warm-up in what could be his last game for his hometown club Schalke. «I'm looking forward to the Veltins Arena. It wasn't the case that we could play there for a long time," the 2014 world champion said before the game.
After his two collapses in pre-season, national player Musiala was back in the squad and on the pitch from the 57th minute. Neuer, Musiala and Co. had to play with limited support in the first away game of the Bundesliga season. The active fan scene of the German record champions stayed away from the game. According to media reports, there was an argument with Schalke supporters before the start of the game.
FC Bayern's initial offensive
The double winners from Munich, who played with a starting eleven without striker Harry Kane and winger Michael Olise, set the tone right from the start of the game. With a lot of possession, the Munich team let the ball run through their own ranks and looked for gaps in the deep Schalke defense. Lennart Karl scored the first shot, but his long-range shot (2nd) landed in the arms of Schalke goalkeeper Loris Karius.
Karl's graduation should only be the beginning of Munich's starting offensive. In the first quarter of an hour, attack after attack rolled on the Gelsenkirchen goal. A sharp cross (8th) from FCB full-back Alphonso Davies turned into a shot on goal and just missed the Schalke goal. Nathaniel Brown, who was again playing in the attacking midfield, missed Karius again a few minutes later after a pass from Aleksandar Pavlović with a left-footed shot from close range (13th).
Kompany brings Kane, Olise and Musiala
After the one-sided initial phase, coach Miron Muslic's team increasingly managed to relieve the pressure and move the game away from their own goal. FC Bayern found it increasingly difficult to cope with the Royal Blues' intense style of play. After a possible handball by Dayot Upamecano and a duel between Davies and Dina Ebimbe, the Royal Blues called for penalties twice (24th), but were denied by referee Robert Schröder. A free kick from Adil Aouchiche from the edge of the penalty area (35') was defused by Neuer.
At the start of the second half, Bayern's head coach Kompany brought star striker Kane, wing artist Olise and dribbler Musiala into the game and the game shifted more clearly towards the Schalke goal. Even with the new staff, the Munich team couldn't find a way to counter Schalke's tight defensive line, and Bayern hardly had any clear chances to score. Konrad Laimer's shot from a tight angle (63') ended up in the side netting. Luiz Diaz's low shot from close range (68') was blocked.
In the final minutes, the Munich team kept running and Schalke threw themselves into every duel to defend the draw. A few minutes before the final whistle, Schalke goalkeeper Karius once again parried a long-range shot from Kane (86th) and sealed the goalless final score.
