Bayern on title course after putting six past Schalke

Bayern Munich’s French forward Kingsley Coman (R), Schalke’s Swiss defender Cedric Brunner (C) and Schalke’s Polish defender Marcin Kaminski (L) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 in Munich, southern Germany, on May 13, 2023. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP)

Bayern Munich have gone four points clear atop the Bundesliga table ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s late match with a dominant 6-0 win at home over struggling Schalke on Saturday.

Dortmund host Borussia Moenchengladbach in Saturday’s late game and with a win can cut Bayern’s lead to one point with two games remaining this season.

Veteran Bayern captain Thomas Mueller, given a starting berth after being named on the bench in his side’s last two matches, settled the home side’s nerves early, slotting in after 21 minutes, his first goal in eight matches.

Joshua Kimmich doubled Bayern’s lead shortly after, converting a penalty despite losing his footing after Jamal Musiala copped an arm in the box.

Any slim hopes Schalke had of a comeback were snuffed out early in the second stanza, Gnabry collecting a pass from Joao Cancelo and hammering in at the near post scored for the third consecutive match.

Gnabry added another midway through the second half, French teenager Mathys Tel made it five and Noussair Mazraoui scored his first goal in Bayern colours to put the home side on course for an 11th straight Bundesliga title.

The loss leaves Schalke, who had climbed out of the relegation places for the first time since September with last week’s win at Mainz, in the relegation playoff spot with three games remaining.

Elsewhere, Union Berlin solidified their hopes of a first Champions League appearance,