Lewandowski hat-trick fires Bayern past Schalke

Schalke 0-3 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Lewandowski (pen. 20'), 0-2 Lewandowski (50'), 0-3 Lewandowski (75')

Bayern had won seven of their previous eight Bundesliga visits to Schalke prior to kick-off and showed every intention of extending that run at the Veltins Arena. Lewandowski – who else? – had the first sight of goal with a hooked shot that was well saved by Alexander Nübel and the Schalke goalkeeper came to the rescue shortly afterwards too, palming a fierce Lewandowski header over the bar following a corner. The Polish striker was not to be denied a third time, however, sending Nübel the wrong way from the penalty spot after Kingsley Coman had been tripped by Jonjoe Kenny. Omar Mascarell fizzed a shot just wide of the post from the edge of the box in Schalke's only meaningful chance, allowing Bayern to go into the break with a narrow lead.

If Schalke were hoping to fight back in the second half, the wind was swiftly knocked out of their sails by Lewandowski, who curled a sublime 25-yard free-kick into the top corner following Weston McKennie's foul on Corentin Tolisso. The hosts refused to give up, however, and Daniel Caligiuri had a close-range effort cleared off the line by Joshua Kimmich, before Matija Nastasic headed just over from a corner. Niko Kovac brought on new signings Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Perisic for their debuts, but it was Lewandowski who ensured his name would be in the headlines when he turned Salif Sane and rifled in his third to give Bayern their first Bundesliga win of the season.

• Lewandowski scored his second penalty of the season, having also converted from the spot against Hertha Berlin on Matchday 1. He has now netted 24 of 27 spot-kicks he has taken in the Bundesliga.
• The Poland striker now has 18 goals in 21 career meetings with Schalke, including at least one in each of their last nine meetings with Bayern in all competitions.
• Lucas Hernandez made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern here, as did Coutinho and Perisic from the bench.
• Coutinho became the 13th Brazilian to play for Bayern.
• Hernandez was one of four Frenchmen in Bayern's starting line-up (alongside Coman, Tolisso and Benjamin Pavard) – a club record.
• Schalke coach David Wagner named an unchanged side following the 0-0 draw with Gladbach on Matchday 1. Last season, the Royal Blues never kept the same starting XI for consecutive games.

Line-ups

Schalke: Nübel (c) – Kenny, Stambouli, Nastasic, Oczipka – Caligiuri, McKennie, Mascarell (Sane 59'), Raman (Kutucu 51') – Harit (Mercan 85') – Burgstaller
Unused subs: Schubert, Boujellab, Reese
Out: Bentaleb (groin), Carls (ankle), Kabak (foot), Matondo (foot), Schöpf (match fitness), Serdar (knee), Skrzybski (thigh), Uth (match fitness)
Coach: David Wagner

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Süle, Hernandez (Martinez 77'), Alaba – Kimmich, Tolisso – Gnabry (Perisic 57'), Müller (Coutinho 57'), Coman – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Cuisance, Davies
Out: Arp (ill), Boateng (ill), Goretzka (thigh), Thiago (back)
Coach: Niko Kovac

Watch: McKennie confident Schalke will bounce back