The Bundesliga resumes this Saturday, as last season's champions face their closest challengers from the 2017/18 season. Bayern, who recorded a comfortable 2-0 away win over Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday night, will be looking to continue their 100% winning start to the season.
In contrast, Schalke will desperately be looking to pick up their first points of the season, with three consecutive defeats leaving them languishing in 17th.
The #FCBayern plan for today:
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) 21 September 2018
️ Press conference with Niko #Kovac
⚽ Final training ahead of #S04FCB
✈️ Travel to Gelsenkirchen#packmas #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/7AvsDb3LZM
If tradition is anything to go by, it seems that Schalke already have their work cut out. The previous ten meetings between the two sides have seen Bayern on the winning side seven times, with the other three score draws. In fact, the last time Schalke beat the Bavarian juggernauts in the Bundesliga was in a 2-0 win way back in 2010.
Classic Encounter
Flash back to January 26th 2002 - the first encounter between these two at the new

Key Battles
Robert Lewandowski vs Naldo

The simple mentioning of Robert Lewandowski is enough to send chills down a defender's spine. Scoring twice and assisting once in Bayern's first three league games, the Polish hitman added another goal against Benfica on Tuesday night.
However, experienced defender Naldo, who has just begun his thirteenth season in the Bundesliga at the ripe age of 35, has the potential to be every bit the match for Lewandowski.
Schalke fans and youth team players alike will feel the impact when Naldo finally hangs up the boots but for now, the Brazilian international - who accumulated more minutes last season than ever before in the Bundesliga - is feeling younger and hungrier than ever.
Capable of striking free-kicks at 78mph and with immense physical strength, if anyone in Schalke's side can match Lewandowski, it will be Naldo.
Team News
Schalke: Domenico Tedesco's side, who were also in action in the Champions League this week have accumulated no fresh injury concerns but are still without the defensive duo of
Sebastian Rudy will be hoping to prove a point to his former employers, as he is likely to feature in the Schalke midfield after his summer move from Bayern.
#S04FCB pic.twitter.com/7O0VtTojkL
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) 20 September 2018
Bayern Munich: The Bundesliga champions were dealt serious blows in last weekend's win over Bayern Leverkusen, losing both Corentin Tolisso and Rafinha to long-term injuries, while Javi Martinez hobbled off on Wednesday night and Thiago is struggling with a knock.
Niko Kovac may look to Renato Sanches this weekend, alongside former Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka.
A night that belonged to @renatosanches35
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) September 20, 2018
➡️ https://t.co/9L2ZHHV066#UCL #SLBFCB pic.twitter.com/fAXnrKe84f
Predicted Lineups
FC Schalke 04 (3-5-2) Fahrmann; Sane, Naldo, Nastasic; Caligiuri, Rudy, Bentaleb, McKennie, Schopf; Uth, Embolo
Bayern Munich (4-3-3) Neuer; Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Alaba; Sanches, Goretzka, Martinez; Ribery, James, Lewandowski
Prediction