Gelsenkirchen — Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich failed to score for the first time in 59 competitive matches on Saturday, as newly promoted Schalke held them to a goalless draw at the Veltins-Arena.
Luis Diaz came closest to breaking the deadlock, spurning two one-on-one chances either side of half-time. He first shanked a shot wide with only goalkeeper Loris Karius to beat, then saw a tame chip cleared well before it reached the goalline.
The result came after Bayern opened the season with a 5-1 thrashing of VfB Stuttgart and a 4-1 win over second-tier Osnabruck in the DFB Pokal. Manager Vincent Kompany opted to rotate his side for the trip to Gelsenkirchen, leaving Harry Kane and Michael Olise on the bench. Bayern dominated possession but struggled to create clear chances in a disjointed first-half display.
Kane was introduced at the break, while Olise and Jamal Musiala came on with 35 minutes remaining to help Bayern ramp up the pressure. Musiala’s appearance marked his first involvement of the season after he suffered seizures during two pre-season matches.
Konrad Laimer sliced a close-range effort into the side netting, and Kane later forced a stunning fingertip save from Karius with a drive destined for the top corner, but Bayern could not find a way past a compact and disciplined Schalke defence. The point was Schalke’s first of the season since returning to the top flight.
The draw was Kane’s 96th Bundesliga appearance; he needs two more goals to reach a century in the competition, with the record for fewest matches to 100 goals standing at 129. Kane began the day having scored against all 20 other teams he had faced in the Bundesliga and has now found the net against 20 of the 21.
The result also means Bayern will not finish a matchday top of the table for the first time in 67 Bundesliga matchdays, a run stretching back almost two years.
Bayern next host Bodo/Glimt in their opening Champions League fixture on Thursday, before travelling to Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg on September 13.