Heavy defeat on the opening day

FC Schalke 04 began the new Bundesliga season with an emphatic defeat in Munich. FC Bayern beat the Royal Blues 8-0 on Friday night (18/9), with the goals coming from Serge Gnabry (3), Leon Goretzka, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala.

New signing Paciencia starts

Goncalo Paciencia, who joined the club a few days ago from Eintracht Frankfurt, was handed his first start for S04. He played up front along with Mark Uth, who along with Ralf Fährmann, Nabil Bentaleb and Sebastian Rudy, all started after returning from spells away on loan.

Gnabry and Goretzka score early on

The Bundesliga’s opening game didn’t take long to get going. Goncalo Paciencia tested out Manuel Neuer after a pass by Amine Harit in the first minute. Mark Uth couldn’t get the rebound on target.

The hosts were more successful with their first chance of the night. Joshua Kimmich played a central ball over the top to Serge Gnabry, who held off Benjamin Stambouli and hammered home to give Bayern the lead (4’). The champions almost doubled their lead almost right away. Former Schalke winger Leroy Sané played it across goal to Robert Lewandowski, but the Pole’s shot was blocked by ex-Bayern man Sebastian Rudy (5’).

Bayern’s second goal then came in the 19th minute. Another ex-Schalker, Leon Goretzka, scored this time. He hit a low shot past Ralf Fährmann from the edge of the box after an assist from Thomas Müller. Schalke’s goalkeeper impressed five minutes later though, making a strong save from a Joshua Kimmich effort.

Lewandowski scores from the spot

Bayern won a penalty after half an hour after Ozan Kabak fouled Robert Lewandowski. The Pole made no mistake from the spot. Last season’s Bundesliga top scorer sent Ralf Fährmann the wrong way and slotted it into the bottom left corner. David Wagner had had to make his first substitution just seconds before, as Suat Serdar was replaced by Alessandro Schöpf due to injury.

The last chance of the half went to Bayern too; Schalke’s defence was made to work hard for almost the whole period. First, Nabil Bentaleb blocked a shot by Goretzka, before Niklas Süle struck the right-hand post (41’).

Bayern hungry for goals in the second half

Serge Gnabry continued Bayern’s domination right after the start of the second half. The Germany international was played in by Sané and duly finished to make it 4-0 (47’). 12 minutes later, Bayern had a fifth. Joshua Kimmich chipped it over the defence to Sané and he fed Gnabry again – 5-0. Ralf Fährmann then made a nice save from curling Sané drive (63’).

Bayern grabbed a sixth goal in the 69th minute. Thomas Müller volleyed home after a Rabona cross from Robert Lewandowski. Fährmann was beaten once again moments later. Sané rounded off another counter to make it 7-0 (71’).

Schalke had an opportunity in the 81st minute, but Benito Raman could only strike the side netting from a tight angle. Almost immediately afterwards, the hosts piled on the misery; 17-year-old Jamal Musiala found the left corner of the Schalke goal shortly after coming on. Robert Lewandowski provided the assist for his first Bundesliga goal. The opening game of the Bundesliga season finished 8-0.

Werder on a Saturday night

Schalke’s first home game of the new season will come against Werder Bremen next Saturday (26/9, 18:30 CEST). Around 11,000 fans will be able to attend the game in the VELTINS-Arena.