Schalke 04 News

The Bavarians, who won the domestic league and Cup double before adding the Champions League title in August, are the overwhelming favourites to win a ninth consecutive league crown. Unbeaten in 2020, Bayern coach Hansi Flick said he expected his team to continue that run against Schalke, with fans again banned from the Allianz Arena due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most stadiums will have a small number of fans allowed but the city of Munich decided to avoid any large crowds as coronavirus infections across Germany are on the rise again.

The draw lifted Leverkusen to 57 points, one ahead of fifth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach while injury-plagued Schalke set a club record by failing to win for the 13th consecutive league game.

Union, who have gone seven games without a win, climb up to 13th on 32, four points above the relegation playoff spot.

The 31-year-old Poland forward grabbed his first goal with a 20th-minute penalty and added another with a superbly taken free kick five minutes after the restart.

Defeat in the German Super Cup to Borussia Dortmund and a 2-2 home draw with Hertha Berlin in their Bundesliga opener last week made for a disappointing start to the season for the Bavarians. 

Any result other than a win at home against relegation-threatened Schalke could cost Dortmund their shot at the Bundesliga title with three matches to go after the clash.

Germany international Timo Werner scored the winner in the 14th minute as Schalke, who sacked coach Domenico Tedesco after their 7-0 demolition by Manchester City in the Champions League this week, pressed for an early goal.

Chelsea's loss against City was their worst defeat in Premier League history and the London club have dropped to sixth in the standings.

Late goals from Sane and Raheem Sterling helped 10-man City fight back to win the first leg of their last-16 tie 3-2.

City scored twice in the last four minutes to turn the game around, after leading 1-0 but then conceding two penalties in seven minutes.

 Schalke 04 beat 10-man Freiburg 2-0 on Saturday to delay Bayern Munich's title celebrations by at least another week and tighten their grip on second place with six games left in the season.

The Red Devils are clear favorites to lift the Europa League trophy, Italian club AS Roma, on paper, are the only worthy opponents who can give the 20 times England Champions a tough fight

Dortmund are fourth on 27 points, nine points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, who face each other on Wednesday.

 Thomas Tuchel's men won third straight Bundesliga match to reduce the arrears to front-runners Munich.