Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will be desperate for a win ($1.33) on Sunday (2.30am AEST) when they travel to Schalke for their second league clash of the season.
Niko Kovac's men are already feeling the pressure after matchday one where they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hertha Berlin and another draw ($5) against Schalke could see them fall even further behind title rivals Borussia Dortmund - who have made an electric start to the season.
Last season’s Golden Boot winner Robert Lewandowski started the campaign with a brace against Hertha and the Polish striker is the most likely ($3.20) player on Sportsbet to open the scoring.
All eyes are fixed on a potential Bundesliga debut for Philippe Coutinho following the Brazilian’s arrival from Barcelona on a loan with an option to buy. The former Liverpool man has both goals and assists in his locker and he will be itching to make an instant impact by getting on the scoresheet ($2.30) against Schalke.
Bayern have been in imperious form against Schalke in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons with four victories on the bounce, while their last two away trips have seen them score five goals across both without conceding.
The visitors will be eyeing their third clean sheet ($2.25) in a row at Schalke’s Veltin Arena with a 1-0 ($8) or 2-0 ($7) victory both strong possibilities.
Schalke, on the other hand, opened their campaign with a goal-less stalemate at Borussia Monchengladbach and David Wagner’s men have the odds stacked against their favour if they are to record their first win ($8.33) of the season.
They finished a dismal 14th in the Bundesliga last season and their past record against Bayern does not inspire confidence. A 0-0 draw ($17.00) would be a positive result while a victory by even a 1-0 margin ($21) would be an excellent day at the office for Wagner’s side.
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