Bayern 5-0 Schalke: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Hosts Close Gap to 1 Point in Tense Title Race

​Bayern Munich earned a well-deserved 5-0 victory over rivals Schalke on Saturday evening, as the German champions closed the gap to RB Leipzig to a single point at the top of the Bundesliga.

Die Roten took the lead after only six minutes, when Schalke goalkeeper Markus Schubert spilled a cross into the path of Ivan Perisic, whose side-footed ball was lashed home by Robert Lewandowski. Thomas Muller thought he'd doubled the hosts' advantage on 17 minutes, but his effort was ruled out for offside. 

Lewandowski then had a goal of his own disallowed by VAR, after Benjamin Pavard had strayed offside in the buildup to the strike. Muller finally found the net just before half-time, when he ghosted into the box to tap home from close range. 

​Ex-Schalke star Leon Goretzka ended the game as a contest only five minutes after the break, acrobatically firing beyond Schubert at his near post. The hosts added a fourth when Lewandowski laid the ball into the path of Thiago Alcantara, who rolled home the simplest of finishes.

Serge Gnabry added a fifth late on to wrap up a superb display from the hosts, who saw out the rest of the game with ease to crank up the pressure in a dramatic title race. 

Bayern Munich 

Key Talking Point 

You just know ​Bayern are going to win the league, don't you? No matter how badly they start the season, no matter how difficult they make it for themselves, the Bavarian club will always climb to the top by the end of the season. Der FCB knew before kickoff that a win would take them to within one point of RB Leipzig, after the league leaders slipped to a shock defeat earlier in the day. 

And Bayern's three points were never in doubt. The hosts battered Schalke from the off, scoring in the opening five minutes and refusing to take their foot off the pedal as the game progressed. Hans-Dieter Flick has revitalised the German giants following the awful start to the season under Niko Kovac, and although they're still playing the role of 'chaser', it feels inevitable that Bayern will retain their domestic crown once more. 

The cream always rises. 

Player Ratings 

Starting XI: Neuer (6); Pavard (8), Boateng (7), Alaba (8), Davies (8); Kimmich (7), Thiago (8), Goretzka (8); Müller (9), Perisic (8), Lewandowski (8)

Substitutes: Coutinho (6), Gnabry (7), Tolisso (6)

STAR MAN - ​Thomas Muller truly is one of a kind. The German's Bayern career looked to be over under Niko Kovac, who clearly didn't fancy him as part of Der FCB's future. But unsurprisingly, the forward outlasted his now-sacked boss. The advantage of utilising a player of Muller's abilities is that he can play just about any position and perform any role asked of him. 

The 30-year-old was forced into a right-wing role against Schalke, and he hugged the touchline throughout the match, whipping crosses in from wide and arriving at the far post to win any headers that came his way. It was Muller's cross which led to the opening goal, and his strike at the end of the first half killed the game as a contest. 

Industry, technique and versatility. A manager's dream. 

Schalke 

Key Talking Point

There has certainly been no love lost between Bayern and ​Schalke over the years, and the latter have lost a number of stars for nothing to their bitter rivals. The likes of Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka have made the move across to the Bavarian club, and Alexander Nubel is the latest to walk that well-trodden path. 

The Schalke captain has subsequently had his leadership stripped, and backup goalkeeper Markus Schubert had the opportunity to nail down a starting place with a good performance against the German champions during Nubel's suspension. It's safe to say, the he didn't take that opportunity, and the visitors were behind only five minutes into the match after some poor handling from their number two. Schubert then dropped another cross later in the half, and his presence struck fear through his own defence. 

As the goals continued to fly in, Schubert's chances of holding onto the number one spot became slimmer and slimmer. A tough day at the office. 

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Schubert (5); Kenny (4), Ozan Kabak (4), Nastasic (5), Oczipka (5); Mascarell (4), Caligiuri (5), Suat Serdar (5), Harit (6); Matondo (5), Gregoritsch (5)

Substitutes: Kutucu (5), Boujellab (5), Mckennie (N/A)

STAR MAN - This one is a toughy. Schalke were absolutely awful from start to finish. The goalkeeper couldn't catch the ball, the defenders failed to put in any tackles and the midfield lost the ball in dangerous areas time after time. So, the 'Star Man' is simply the player who was less bad than the others, rather than someone who actually deserves it. 

Amine Harit, step forward! The trequartista caused Bayern a couple of problems in the opening 20 minutes, before the hosts truly took control and nullified any threat. After that, Harit didn't really do a great deal - but doing nothing is sometimes better than doing something - and that was exactly the case for the attacking midfielder. 

Chuck this award in the bin when you get home, Amine.  

Looking Ahead 

Bayern follow up their huge victory over Schalke with a trip to relegation-threatened Mainz on Saturday afternoon. 

Schalke travel to Hertha Berlin in their next Bundesliga, as coach Wagner looks to bounce back from their crushing defeat to Bayern.