Bundesliga matchday 2 brings Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich to the Veltins-Arena on 5 September 2026 and the gap between the two sides already looks substantial after one round. Schalke sit 16th after a bruising 0-3 opening defeat at Augsburg, while Bayern lead the table following their 5-1 demolition of Stuttgart. Schalke need a statement result to settle nerves in their return to the top flight, Bayern want to extend a perfect start that already includes a DFB Pokal win.
This is the first time Miron Muslić and Vincent Kompany have faced each other: Muslić was appointed on 31 May 2025, replacing Kees van Wonderen, while Kompany has held the Bayern post since 1 July 2024 after succeeding Thomas Tuchel, leaving both managers working entirely from a blank slate.
Schalke's only competitive outing ended in disappointment: they conceded three times at Augsburg on 30 August and were effectively reduced to ten men for much of the game after Ron Schallenberg's red card. Bayern, by contrast, have looked sharp across two matches, beating Stuttgart 5-1 in the league and following that with a 4-1 Pokal win against Osnabrück.
Muslić must plan without two players: Schallenberg serves a two match suspension following his red card at Augsburg and Karaman remains sidelined with a hip injury. Jamal Musiala is a doubt for Bayern because of health issues involving possible absence seizures, though a cautious return has not been ruled out and Serge Gnabry is out with a muscle or groin problem. Kompany will need to reshuffle his attacking options without Musiala's dribbling and Gnabry's output from the right.
Schalke are expected to set up in a compact 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2, with Muslić leaning on a high press designed to force Bayern's centre backs into direct passes by targeting their build up triggers. The plan is to squeeze central space and get Moussa Sylla on the counter, where he can run in behind on the transition. Nikola Katić will organise the three man block against Bayern's front three and if Schalke need to chase the game late on, Džeko gives Muslić a more static focal point to hold the ball up. The absence of Schallenberg in front of the back three leaves the midfield notably thinner, which is the part of this plan most likely to fray under pressure.
Against Stuttgart, Bayern's full backs pushed so high that the two pivots effectively operated as the deepest players, with Kimmich turning defence into attack through his distribution. Harry Kane tends to drift to the edge of the box rather than hold the line, drawing a centre back with him and creating gaps for runners behind. With Musiala and Gnabry both absent, Kompany may lean more heavily on that Kane movement, with the full backs pushing high to compensate. Davies will look to exploit the space behind Schalke's right wing back and Kimmich's ability to slide passes into the half spaces was again evident at Stuttgart.
The real question is whether Schalke can stop Bayern getting into those half spaces. Their compact shape should limit direct service to Kane but the margins are fine: press too high and they leave space in behind for Davies or a late arriving midfielder, sit too deep and Bayern can recycle possession until a gap opens. Without Schallenberg anchoring the midfield, Schalke's capacity to maintain that press for ninety minutes looks genuinely in doubt and any opening Bayern find in the second half will be difficult to contain.
Bayern hold 22 wins from 31 meetings, the last five all going their way including a 6-0, which reflects the size of the gap Schalke are trying to close.
Schalke will need Katić and others to maintain aerial discipline at both ends with Schallenberg absent. There is also the emotional charge of Schalke's first home Bundesliga match against Bayern since promotion, which could lift the Veltins-Arena for the opening half hour, though that kind of crowd energy tends to dissipate without a goal and with Schallenberg missing from midfield, Schalke have limited means to sustain pressure beyond the first twenty minutes.
With Schalke's midfield reduced by Schallenberg's suspension and Bayern recycling possession patiently as they did against Stuttgart, the second half looks the most likely time for the game to open up. Sylla's counter threat and the atmosphere of a first home league game back in the Bundesliga could produce a Schalke goal but Kane is well placed to exploit any space Schalke surrender chasing the game. The prediction is a 1-3 win for the visitors.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
