FC Schalke vs Bayern Munich predicted XI: One job only

FC Schalke passed their first huge test against Borussia Monchengladbach. Now Bayern Munich are coming up next. Here’s how they need to line up.

FC Schalke are riding high on a huge win at home against Borussia Monchengladbach, but now they have to travel to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich. The German giants sit second in the league, but just three points up on Schalke, and while it would take a 19-0 result (or 20-1, I’m not picky) to overturn the goal differential, three points is always the goal.

Especially given the lack of potential snags elsewhere in the the top match-ups. Monchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund and Leipzig all have relatively tame match-ups by comparison, so the risk is there to drop if we can’t find the necessary result.

Of course, one point isn’t the end of the world, as it would at least ensure that we stay in the top five, with Leverkusen unable to pass.

That said, the goal is, as always, three points, and Schalke proved against a very capable Monchengladbach that they have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the heavy hitters. Maybe Michael Gregoritsch was all that was needed to push us over the top.

David Wagner won’t need to make many changes here. He’s still dealing with the same familiar list of absentees—Weston McKennie, Alexander Nubel, Salif Sane and Benjamin Stambouli. Other than that, they have the whole compliment of guys that saw them through against Monchengladbach just a week ago.

My big question is how you line them up. Because the majority of these players are attack-oriented, and we also have to factor in Amine Harit‘s return (which, by the way, huzzah for that). But by my estimation, we can get by with a sparely used 4-2-2-2 formation that perhaps skews into a 4-3-1-2 at times, depending on Caligiuri’s positioning.

And so, without further ado, let’s talk personnel. We will start at the back with our keeper.

Keeper

It’s hard not to love what we’ve seen out of Markus Schubert so far. And with Alexander Nubel still suspended and still leaving, it’s easy to call this one.

On to the defense.