8' JUST WIDE! At the other end, an unmarked Serdar is well-found in the box. But needing to generate pace on the ball, he heads marginally wide of the target.
7' CHANCE FOR LEWANDOWSKI! The Bundesliga's top scorer times his run to meet Kimmich's delightful cross, but sends his header just over the crossbar.
5' Of course, Sane is returning to his former club today. After coming through the youth ranks, the Germany international scored 11 goals in 47 Bundesliga appearances for the Royal Blues between 2014 and 2016.
3' At the other end, the left foot of Sane unleashes Bayern's first attempt. Once again, though, the winger's effort is never troubling the goalkeeper and flashes wide.
2' Schalke have the first effort on goal as Becker tries his luck from distance. But his tame left-footed strike is easy enough for Neuer to gather.
1' The referee blows his whistle and Bayern get the match underway!
The teams are out and kick-off is imminent.
Bayern have enjoyed a dominant record in the recent history of this fixture. In fact, they have won each of their last nine against Schalke, conceding just two goals during that span.
As for Bayern, Hansi Flick makes three alterations from the narrow win over Augsburg. Two of them come in defence, with Niklas Sule and Alphonso Davies replacing Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez. Meanwhile, Leroy Sane is recalled against his former club to the left side of the attacking trio behind lone striker Robert Lewandowski, with Kingsley Coman dropping to the bench.
Christian Gross makes just a single change from Schalke's last-minute defeat by Koln in midweek. Bastian Oczipka replaces Arsenal loanee Sead Kolasinac at left-back, while Nassim Boujellab returns from injury on the bench. Their greatest threat is likely to come from in-form striker Matthew Hoppe, who has scored five goals in his last three games.
SUBS: Alexander Nubel, Benjamin Pavard, Douglas Costa, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Lucas Hernandez, Marc Roca, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala.
BAYERN MUNICH (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Jerome Boateng, Niklas Sule, David Alaba, Alphonso Davies; Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka; Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane; Robert Lewandowski.
SUBS: Michael Langer, Hamza Mendyl, Omar Mascarell, Nassim Boujellab, Alessandro Schopf, Malick Thiaw, Levent Mercan, Can Bozdogan.
SCHALKE (4-2-3-1): Ralf Fahrmann; Timo Becker, Ozan Kabak, Matija Nastasic, Bastian Oczipka; Benjamin Stambouli, Suat Serdar; Benito Raman, Mark Uth, Amine Harit; Matthew Hoppe.
It is top against bottom in the German top-flight. Bayern could move seven points clear at the summit with victory over Schalke, who are currently 10 points from safety at the foot of the table.
Hello and welcome to everyone joining our live text coverage of the German Bundesliga clash between Schalke and Bayern Munich at the Veltins-Arena.
