Bayern Munich held by Schalke ahead of Champions League return

Bayern Munich were held to a goalless draw by Schalke at Veltins-Arena on Saturday, dropping two points in only their second Bundesliga match of the season.

The reigning champions controlled the game for long periods but could not find a way past the hosts, despite having 83% possession and registering 15 shots, five of which were on target.

The result leaves Bayern fourth in the Bundesliga with four points. They are two points behind the three clubs sharing the lead: Freiburg, Borussia Dortmund and Elversberg, who have each won their opening two matches.

Schalke, meanwhile, collected their first point of the campaign and moved up to 14th place.

Bayern had started the season in impressive fashion. Vincent Kompany’s side opened their title defence with a 5-1 victory over Stuttgart before continuing their strong run by beating Osnabruck 4-1 in the German Cup.

That momentum disappeared at Veltins-Arena, however, as Bayern failed to turn their dominance into a goal. Their attacking players struggled to break down a Schalke defence that remained organised throughout the match, despite the considerable difference in resources between the two clubs.

Kompany made several notable changes to the team that began the Bundesliga campaign. One of the most significant was the inclusion of Morocco international Ismael Saibari in the starting line-up.

Saibari had made an immediate impact as a substitute against Stuttgart in the opening round, providing two assists. He then started in the German Cup victory over Osnabruck, earning another opportunity from the beginning against Schalke.

His involvement ended in the 57th minute, when he was replaced by French team-mate Michael Olise.

The match also marked an important occasion for Schalke. It was their first Bundesliga fixture at Veltins-Arena for more than three years after their return to Germany’s top flight.

The Royal Blues had begun the new Bundesliga season with a 3-0 defeat by Augsburg, but they responded with a determined display against the champions and secured a valuable point in front of their home supporters.

For Bayern, the draw comes only days before the start of their European campaign. They will begin their Champions League involvement on Thursday, when they host Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt at Allianz Arena.

The result means Bayern go into that fixture having failed to win their second league match, despite the emphatic nature of their opening victory and their comfortable cup success. Their performance against Schalke showed clear control of possession, but also highlighted the difficulty they can face when opponents defend deeply and deny them space in the final third.