Brilliant Bayern lay down marker against Schalke

FC Bayern beat Schalke 6-0 on Saturday to take the next step towards the Bundesliga title. Munich were dominant throughout and took the lead through Thomas Müller, with Joshua Kimmich doubling the advantage from the penalty spot before the half-hour mark. Serge Gnabry bagged a brace after the interval before Mathys Tel and Noussair Mazraoui added their names to the scoresheet.

The German record champions started with Yann Sommer in goal and Mazraoui, Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt and João Cancelo in a back four. Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Müller, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman, with Gnabry up front. Ryan Gravenberch, Leon Goretzka, Mathys Tel, Dayot Upamecano and Sadio Mané took over from Coman, Kimmich, Gnabry, de Ligt and Musiala in the second half.

Müller opens

The 75,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw FCB in the driving seat, with Gnabry having an effort saved before Coman had his shot cleared off the line. A Mazraoui square only just evaded Gnabry before Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow denied Müller, and Musiala fired over. But a goal was coming and arrived when Müller slotted past Schwolow from the edge of the area after Sané's lay-off.

Bayern were awarded a penalty when Musiala was upended in the box, with Kimmich coolly  dispatching. Sané had a free-kick deflected behind and Schwolow denied Gnabry with the half-time whistle imminent.

Laying down a marker

Proceedings were similar after the restart, and Bayern put the game to bed when Cancelo wriggled clear and cut back to Gnabry, who sidestepped two defenders and beat Schwolow at his near post. Schwolow parried a Coman effort, with Müller miscuing at the far post.

But even after taking their foot off the gas, Bayern were still quicker than their opponents, as demonstrated when Gnabry raced clear on a counter and rounded Schwolow to make it four. Musiala fired over but soon invited Tel to slot home. Goretzka headed in a rebound after Schwolow parried against Mazraoui, only for the linesman to raise his flag. The Morocco international then rounded off the half-dozen in injury time, racing clear and netting via the inside of the post for his first goal for the club.

The victory takes Bayern onto 68 points with two matches to go, four clear of Borussia Dortmund, who take on Gladbach later on Saturday. FCB will be back in action next Saturday when they entertain Leipzig.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen