FC Schalke 04 - Bayern München

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Saturday evening Top match will be between FC Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich. Both started in Champions League under the week but both with different success. Of course both won but Schalke 04 played really crap in first half and need a lucky goal to open the gates and got a lot more space and put the result higher. Nevertheless this encounter has a long tradition and it was always a very hot atmosphere between these two clubs. We can expect the next big fight here as both need Points to continue their way.

Maybe some statements from some players were not optimal before the season. Because with Jones mentioned one player in an interview that the goal must be for Schalke to win the championship this season. This was of course very optimistic from him and maybe too much pressure for his team mates as they disappointed a lot in the first matches, only designed the last two successful. It was more as needed according to their team spirit and self confidence for the upcoming weeks and also not to stick around longer firmly at the bottom of the table. What would have brought a lot of unrest in and around the club. Also Coach Keller can work without any pressure now, but of course at Schalke you have always pressure and they want more anyway. After five league matches which 7 Points on their side they have to continue their way but they have to improve a lot additional. It looks like that the team has some problems in their defensive and offensive play. They are not on the level they must be to be a good team and they have still to do to get well balanced in their play. Some weak Points are their defense line where Matip, Höwedes or Santana made a lot of mistakes in central back and this is always included with conceding goals. Both back wings are average if Uchida or some replacements whoever played since there. Also the other side with Fuchs or Aogo in the past it looks not such stable. Also a lot of changes in central midfield where Jones, Höger, Neustädter or Goretzka got a chance there, all could not convince so far and therefore Coach Keller has not found the right lineup so far. Offensive line looks very good from the names but they have still a lot of to improve. Offensive wings with Farfan and Draxler are top players but only on a good day, replacements have less quality with Clemens and Goretzka. In central midfield they got with Boateng an important leader in their team and he can maybe be the advantage or the difference in some matches. Striker duo with Huntelaar and Szalai are great but they face a lot of slight injuries in the past while Huntelaar was out some weeks and Szalai played with hand injury. However, the situation can be much better anyway.

I wrote a lot from Bayern Munich in the past weeks and they maybe have something changed in their style of play. If we compare the matches to beginning of the season where Coach Guardiola counts on much ball possession and only one central player before the defense line it looks more that he has changed his style of play and gives Bayern Munich more stability back. Against Gladbach very open in defensive and also much space for Gladbach’s wings, because of very high playing wings and only one central midfield player before the defensive line. Also in Frankfurt they won with luck but with same tactic, vs. Nürnberg at home also with some luck because if Ginczek had scored it had been very hard for them to bounce back, lucky again. In Freiburg they controlled the match but did not want to go for the second goal or if they waste ….. and according to a lot of luck in the first matches and not to attack for the second goal they paid the price with a late equalizer from Freiburg which cost them two points. Nevertheless they dominated the Supercup match against Chelsea and were the far better side but needed a lot of luck again to equalize in Extra time but they won after Penalties and took revenge. After the national break or maybe due to national break Coach Guardiola changes his mind about his tactic maybe because he watched Germany vs. Austria in Munich. He saw that Löw played with two central midfielders before the defensive line and it worked well. Above all one player with Kroos interprets his role very flexible but always in mind that he had to help the more defensive minded player Khedira in central midfield and this could be the key for Guardiola’s rethinking. One week later Guardiola turned to the same system against Hannover to give his team and their play much more stability back. Of course they are still offensive minded but with two central defensive players now, almost the same system as under former Coach Heynckes. The only difference is that with Kroos a much more offensive thinking player interprets his role very flexible. It worked well vs. Hannover with a 2-0 win and also against CSKA Moskau 3-0 in CL they kept two times a clean sheet and this show that they are on very good way now. Maybe Coach Guardiola has needed some time to find the right balance and right system for Bayern Munich’s play. Nevertheless they had 70% ball possession in CL against CSKA and this is an absolutely great value and in Guardiola’s signification. Despite the two wins some changes are possible above all Schweinsteiger can be in starting lineup after returning from injury, therefore Lahm who played in central midfield for him can move back to his normal position on the wing while Rafinha must on bench. In Central defensive he can choose from van Buyten, Boateng and Dante, not sure what he fields there. Offensive line should be the same because of less alternatives according to their injured players like Thiago, Martinez and Götze although Götze is back in training but not ready for the starting lineup. Maybe Mandzukic gets a break and Pizzaro plays for him. The other position are all expected as in the past.