Bayern stay perfect in the Bundesliga

Bayern Munich extended their perfect start to the Bundesliga to four consecutive victories thanks to a 2-0 win at Schalke, who were defeated for the first time this season. After a tense first half in which neither side pressed offensively, the game finally opened up when Toni Kroos broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Thomas Muller added a second for Bayern three minutes later and that was enough to give Jupp Heynckes' side the three points they needed to return to the top of the table, above Eintracht Frankfurt, also with four wins from four. The game failed to live up to its pre-match billing, but with with two of the Bundesliga's heavyweights both aiming to preserve unbeaten records, it was hardly surprising that chances were few and far between. The first came in the 25th minute when Mario Mandzukic headed the ball over the crossbar from close range from a left-wing cross. Ten minutes later, Muller blazed a shot wide from 25 yards as Bayern wasted the first two half-chances of the afternoon. Schalke's answer was a shot from Jefferson Farfan which former Royal Blue goalkeeper Manuel Neuer tipped over the crossbar. Kroos gave Bayern the lead ten minutes into the second half when he exchanged passes with Muller and then picked his spot in the far corner of Lars Unnerstall's goal. Three minutes later, Muller made it two, making the most of some weak Schalke defending before prodding the ball into the far corner with too much ease for Schalke coach Huub Stevens' liking. Schalke were unable to react and Javi Martinez went close to opening his account for Bayern, but Christian Fuchs denied the Bundesliga's most expensive signing. Bayern then took the tempo out of the game, saving energy towards the end of their seventh win of the season in all competitions. FIFA