Bayern Munich took on Schalke 04 this evening knowing that a big win would be enough to take them above Borussia Dortmund and top of the Bundesliga.
Schalke made a strong start to the clash but conceded twice in as many minutes midway through the first half, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Mandzukic both scoring headers from close range.
Pep Guardiola's side controlled the game and made the result look emphatic late on, with strikes from Franck Ribery and Claudio Pizarro.
Look back at a ruthless display from the defending champions with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Afternoon Bundesliga fans. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the pick of the matches from round six in Germany, as Schalke host Bayern Munich in a battle between Champions League contenders at the Veltins Arena.
Both sides head into this traditionally fierce clash in fine form, with Bayern in particular really starting to match performances with results under Pep Guardiola. The Bavarians are unbeaten in the Bundesliga so far this season, and also began the defence of their Champions League crown with a convincing wn over CSKA Moscow in midweek.
Schalke have also looked far better in recent weeks, with Jens Keller's side shaking off a poor start to the campaign with successive league wins. The signings of Dennis Aogo and Kevin-Prince Boateng have definitely made a difference, with their Champions League campaign also kicking off in style in midweek.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! The starting XI's have just reached us and feature a return for Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has recovered from injury to take up a familiar position in central midfield. A full look at both sides will follow in just a few moments.
SCHALKE XI: Hildebrand, Uchida, Höwedes, Matip, Aogo, Jones, Neustädter, Farfan, Boateng, Draxler, Szalai
BAYERN XI: Dante, Ribery, Mandzukic, Robben, Rafinha, Boateng, Lahm, Alaba, Schweinsteiger, Kroos
Guardiola has opted for just one change from the side which swept aside CSKA on Tuesday, with Schweinsteiger replacing Thomas Muller in midfield. With Rafinha keeping his place it looks like Phillip Lahm will continue in a holding midfield role, with Schweinsteiger and Kroos playing in advanced positions.
Schalke have also decided to make one change to a winning side, with Jermaine Jones coming to replace Marco Hoger in central midfield. Adam Szalai continues in attack with Klass-Jan Huntelaar sidelined, with Julian Draxler trusted to create just behind.
Of course much of the pre-match build-up has revolved around the battle of the Boateng's, with Kevin-Prince coming up against his sibling Jerome. The Ghana midfielder has made an instant impact since arriving in Gelsenkirchen, scoring in both of his first two games for Keller's side.
A quick reminder that following Dortmund's draw at Nuremberg this afternoon Bayern will go top with a big win at the Veltins, with a victory enough to lift Guardiola's side level with their main title rivals on 16 points.
PREDICTION! With both sides just about to emerge at a raucous Veltins there is just time to register a prediction. Schalke are unbeaten in their last four against Bayern but I think that run will end this evening, with Robben back among the goals in a 2-1 away win. Schalke are flying right now though, so expect the hosts to have their chances.
After a slight delay here come the two teams, with Bayern in a rather peculiar training top modelled on a traditional Bavarian outfit. The Boateng brothers have just exchanged pre-match pleasantries are we are just about ready to get underway.
Manuel Neuer is the target of abuse from the home fans as Bayern get this clash underway, shooting from right to left. A reminder that Guardiola's side are bidding for a fifth successive win in all competitions.
Dante smashes a clearance long as Bayern attack early on, with Robben fouled by Neustader as he attempts to pick up the pieces. Bayern are playing with a very high line early on, looking to press the ball at every opportunity.
Jerome Boateng takes a chance in possession and concedes a cheap corner kick, which Bayern are able to clear easily and break out wide through Robben. The Dutchman goes over under contact from Jones, which he is always looking for as a free kick helps the visitors regroup.
Kevin-Prince Boateng robs Lahm in midfield and runs a full 30 yards into the final third unopposed. With options to his left and right Boateng elects to ignore both and shoot, forcing Neuer to make a stop low to his right.
Farfan is the latest to break clear for Schalke out wide, cutting inside to Szalai with a clever pass. The Hungarian tries to shoot first time but miscues horribly, failing to test the goalkeeper from 12 yards.
Robben wins a free kick just around 25 yards from goal after being bundled over by Neustädter, that's the third time the Dutchman has been fouled already this evening. From the set piece Alaba steps up to drive powerfully at goal, but his strike goes just beyond the near post.
Mandzukic shows strength to hold the ball up and feed Robben out wide. The Dutchman waits before feeding Kroos inside, with his shot under pressure from Matip going just beyond the top corner. Bayern are just starting to control possession, but as a type Jones waits for a challenge from Dante and wins a free kick out wide.
Alaba gets a telling off from Mandzukic after skewing a forward pass straight out for a throw-in. Schalke take advantage to come forward through Farfan, who cuts inside to drive at goal. His scuffed shot is missing the far corner and evades Draxler at the far post, but the playmaker was stood in an offside position.
MISS! A huge let-off for Bayern as Alaba is caught out of position. Farfan takes advantage to send a delightful cross through to Szalai in the six-yard box. From close range the forward slides in but cannot get effective contact on the strike, with Boateng doing enough to put the Hungarian off as his effort goes high into the air.
Action at both ends as Kroos curls one over the top from just inside the penalty area, with Boateng winning a quick corner from Rafinha from another Schalke break. Bayern then take their turn to attack as Mandzukic crosses beyond the penalty area, with Robben's cross turned behind for a corner kick on the follow-up.
GOAL! Schalke 0-1 Bayern (Schweinsteiger)
Advantage Bayern as Schweinsteiger marks his return to the side by breaking the deadlock. Schalke were caught napping from a corner kick and the visitors took full advantage, with Uchida unable to stop a powerful header drifting inside the corner.
GOAL! Schalke 0-2 Bayern (Mandzukic)
A horrible two minutes for Schalke as Bayern break to double their advantage in the next passage of play. The hosts were still reeling from conceding the opener when Alaba broke clear down the left, with his inviting chipped cross standing up perfectly for Mandzukic. The Croatian got plenty of purchase on his downward header, which trickled over the line despite an attempted last-ditch clearance from Howedes. What a turnaround for Bayern, who are two goals to the good at the Veltins.
WIDE! Schalke are wide open defensively and nearly go three behind, as Robben picks up possession cheaply in the final third. His quick interchange with Ribery finds the winger free from six yards, but his low effort is deflected wide by a last-ditch block from Howedes. Keller's side are all at sea at the moment.
Bayern are dominating possession high up the pitch as Lahm shimmies inside, before Howedes comes in to intercept. Keller looks crestfallen on the touchline but must rally his troops quickly before this match is over as a contest.
Bayern's midfield three are utterly dominant right now as Lahm and Robben combine to win a corner kick, with Ribery's cross eventually collected by Hildebrand.
Jerome Boateng comes forward in possession as Bayern look to keep the ball in midfield, which is being achieved with relative ease right now as play is switched to Alaba. His forward burst finds Mandzukic, who crosses for Rafinha to smash wide on the half-volley. Both full-backs in the opposition penalty area sums up Bayern's superiority at this stage.
A rare Schalke break sees Szalai fail to pick out Draxler, with his low cross hit too early and only trickling through to Neuer's grateful grasp. At the other end Robben goes down writhing in agony, but is back to his feet inside 30 seconds as play continues with Mandzukic smashing wide of the near post.
The home fans want a free kick as Boateng tangles with Alaba as he looks to break inside, but the referee waves away protests. Schalke then gift Ribery the ball as Howedes sends a sloppy pass out of defence, with the winger shooting early as his low drive is held by Hildebrand.
Boateng's clever pass inside pings back off Szalai, which just about sums up Schalke's efforts in the first half.
HALF TIME Schalke 0-2 Bayern
A classic Bayern sucker-punch has Guardiola's side well in control of what looked like their toughest test of the season. Schweinsteiger and Mandzukic scored either within the space of two minutes to leave Schalke shellshocked after a relatively bright start, leaving the hosts with an uphill battle to respond.
Bayern's midfield trio have been nothing short of sensational in that first half, with Lahm in particular proving his worth in a new position. Kroos has also got forward with pace and purpose, making runs that have simply not been tracked with any regularity by the hosts.
Schalke had made a bright start and carried a threat on the counter early on, with the pace of Boateng and Farfan causing a high Bayern defence problems. Szalai spurned a glorious opportunity from close range and just three minutes later Keller's side were staring a two-goal deficit in the face.
What will disappoint Keller most is the manner in which his side conceded both goals. Pretty pathetic marking allowed Schweinsteiger a free header for the first goal, while the hosts were still fast asleep when Mandzukic steered home the second a minute later. Lapses in concentration against a side as ruthless as Bayern are simply not an option.
BENCH WATCH! Both managers have options to call upon at the interval, with Keller perhaps most in need of some inspiration. Starlet Goretzka could provide a creative spark in midfield, while Felipe Santana is a reliable defender waiting in reserve. Bayern meanwhile have Muller, Shaqiri and Pizarro all hoping to come on and get involved.
SUBSTITUTION: Keller has indeed decided to shake things up at the break, with Hoger replacing Neustadter in central midfield. Schalke have been completely overrun in that area and will be looking for steel from Hoger as play resumes.
Ribery concedes a dangerous free kick just wide of the penalty area early in the second half, but a woeful delivery from Aogo fails to beat the first defender at the near post.
Bayern threaten again out wide as Robben drifts into a dangerous position, with his cutback just failing to pick out Kroos inside the area. Schalke have got to shut the Dutchman down quicker when he picks up the ball in wide areas, or better still deny him service.
More superb work from Robben sees Bayern attack in numbers, but this time down the right. His flick inside finds Mandzukic, but the cross sits up awkwardly for the forward as he drags a stray shot wide. At the other end Farfan uses his pace to beat Alaba, but cannot keep his cross in play.
Bayern are threatening to run riot as Robben finds Ribery down the line with a beautifully disguised pass. Ribery cuts the ball back into space inside the penalty area, but for once there is no Bayern player to meet the cross as Matip hacks clear.
Schalke have not given this up and continue to chase without any great success, as Kroos picks out Robben with a superb crossfield pass. His switch inside looks for Schweinsteiger, who is just held off by an important interception from Matip.
Aogo's cross is blocked behind as Schalke win a corner kick, giving the hosts a chance to respond. Neuer clears the initial cross, but when the ball is hooked back in Boateng finds enough room to head just wide of the near post.
YELLOW CARD! The referee has been fairly lenient this afternoon but finally awards the first booking to Farfan, who caught Ribery with his studs after leaning into a challenge with a high foot.
Schalke are gambling a bit more in possession and making mistakes, allowing Lahm and Rafinha to stride forward in quick succession. Aogo just manages to intercept a pass destined for Robben at the far post, while at the other end Szalai just fails to make contact with a cross under pressure from Boateng.
Alaba just puts too much on a pass inside for Robben, with his through ball too straight to find its intended target. Still no sign of changes for the visitors, who may tire considering their midweek exertions.
Draxler sends a hopeful shot well wide after cutting inside with purpose. The youngster has largely been a passenger in central midfield this evening, with Lahm able to shut him down in an effective display.
SUBSTITUTION: Bayern make their first change and what a luxury swap it is, with Robben coming off for Muller. The Dutchman has been fantastic this afternoon, but gets a welcome rest as we head towards the final 15 minutes.
GOAL! Schalke 0-3 Bayern (Ribery)
Ribery has just the three points beyond doubt from close range, but Davide Alaba deserves much of the credit for threading a pass into the six-yard box through the eye of a needle. Ribery even had time to miscontrol before tapping past Hildebrand into the corner for his fourth of the season.
SUBSTITUTION: With the game won Bayern decide to rest Schweinsteiger, with the midfielder managing close to 80 minutes on his return to first-team action. Jan Kirchhoff is on for a chance to impress in the closing stages.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Both sides opt for fresh legs, with Boateng taken off form Christian Clemens by Schalke. Bayern also make a like-for-like swap, which sees Pizarro get a rare run out in attack in place of Mandzukic.
GOAL! Schalke 0-4 Bayern (Pizarro)
A first goal of the season for Pizarro is put on a plate by fellow substitute Muller as Bayern round off an emphatic victory. Muller burst through and just evaded Hildebrand, passing inside for the Peruvian to slot into an empty net.
Schalke's home support are not heading for the exits after being completely outplayed this afternoon. Farfan presses on in search of a consolation, but Bayern smash his cross clear as Muller retrieves possession in central midfield.
No added time at the Veltins, much to the relief of a beleaguered Schalke.
FULL TiME Schalke 04 0-4 Bayern Munich
Well that was without doubt Bayern's most impressive display under Guardiola to date. The reigning champions move level with Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table after a rout at Schalke, putting four past the Royal Blues to break a poor recent record at the Veltins Arena.
Well that dominant Bayern performance just about concludes our coverage from the Bundesliga this afternoon. Thanks for sticking with Sports Mole and be sure to touch base again this weekend for comprehensive coverage of all the major action across Europe. Good evening!
