Schalke vs Bayern Munich preview

September 21, 2012
By: Frank Beresford

Many believe Borussia Dortmund will be the only serious title contender to Bayern Munich, but there is every chance that Schalke are going to join the two sides in the battle for the Bundesliga title.

Having said that, this is a perfect chance for the Miners to prove they can mix it with the best of them in Germany’s elite division.

Star striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar was adamant that he would only sign a new deal at Veltins Arena if the club reinforced the squad in off-season, and the club chiefs have duly obliged.

The Miners resisted the temptation to sell Kiriakos Papadopoulos, Lewis Holtby and Jefferson Farfan, while in came Ibrahim Afellay, Tranquillo Barnetta and Roman Neustadter, among others.

As a result, Schalke started the season in bright fashion, taking 7 points from first 3 league games, while beating Olympiakos away at the start of the Champions League campaign.

The Miners are now brimming with confidence before the clash with Bayern and they are 4.00 (3/1) with BetVictor to triumph over their more illustrious opponents.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Jermaine Jones are both doubtful for this crunch tie, just like Ciprian Marica, Chinedu Obasi and Sergio Escudero. Timo Hildebrand is sidelined through injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Unnerstall – Uchida, Howedes, Papadopoulos, Fuchs – Jones, Neustadter – Farfan, Holtby, Draxler – Huntelaar.

After losing the second successive Bundesliga title to Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich are desperate to restore domestic domination this season.

The arrivals of Javi Martinez, Mario Mandzukic, Dante, Xherdan Shaqiri and Claudio Pizarro are a real testament of their ambition, and everybody at the club were delighted to see the new players settle in quickly at Alianz Arena.

The Bavarians have now won all six competitive games this season, so no wonder they are 1.95 (19/20) with Sportingbet to make it seven in a row.

Boss Jupp Heynckes has hinted that he will make some changes to the starting line-up, with Luis Gustavo and Thomas Muller expected to start.

Mario Gomez remains sidelined, but Franck Ribery should keep his place in the side after recovering from a thigh problem.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Neuer – Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Badstuber – Javi Martinez, Luiz Gustavo – Robben, Muller, Ribery – Mandzukic.

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