Fresh from the first loss of the Bundesliga campaign, holders Bayern Munich host high-flying Schalke at their Alianz Arena, hoping for a morale-boosting win.

The Miners climbed back to top 4 positions by defeating Hannover, but it remains to be seen if they can match the Bavarians on Tuesday evening.

If we disregard the German Super Cup loss to Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich were simply impeccable in the first part of the season.

The Bavarians topped their Champions League group while creating an eight-point cushion at the Bundesliga summit with some impressive displays.

However, their unbeaten run came to an abrupt end last weekend as Wolfsburg hammered Bayern 4-1 to make the title race a bit more interesting.

There’s no denying this has been team’s most disappointing result up to date, so it remains to be seen how the players will react.

But, seeing as Bayern have yet to drop points at home this season, you should know home win pays 1.15 (3/20) with Sportingbet.

Franck Ribery and Rafinha are not yet ready to return, whereas Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara and Philipp Lahm are long-term casualties.

Probable starting line-up (4-1-4-1): Neuer – Rode, Boateng, Benatia, Bernat – Alonso – Robben, Schweinsteiger, Gotze, Muller – Lewandowski.

Schalke may be occupying a Champions League position at the moment, but with Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg breathing down their necks, the Miners cannot afford to relax just yet.

Roberto Di Matteo’s charges started the second part of the campaign strongly, beating Europa League hopefuls Hannover at their Veltins Arena.

The Miners did well to reinforce their back line by recruiting Matija Nastasic from Manchester City, but their back line will be under a lot of pressure at Alianz Arena, no doubt about it.

And having lost five of eight away matches in this year’s Bundesliga, Schalke will have to work really hard to get something from this game.

The visitors will be without star striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who was sent off against Hannover, with Choupo-Moting likely to start as a lone forward.

Summer signing Fabien Giefer will continue to deputize for the injured goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann, while Kevin-Prince Boateng should start.

Probable starting line-up (3-5-1-1): Giefer – Howedes, Kirchhoff, Nastasic – Uchida, Hoger, Neustadter, Meyer, Fuchs – Boateng – Choupo-Moting.