Bayern Munich vs. Schalke: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

Bayern kick off three hours before second-placed Dortmund, who are currently just a point behind, host Borussia Mönchengladbach, and will up the pressure on their rivals for the German top-flight crown if they can extend their unbeaten 24-game unbeaten run in all competitions against the Royal Blues. Following a two-week injury lay-off, Dayot Upamecano returned to training on Tuesday, but fellow France international Benjamin Pavard has deputised well alongside Matthijs de Ligt and could retain his place in central defence. Leon Goretzka sat out last weekend's win over Werder Bremen due to suspension, but should replace Ryan Gravenberch in midfield. Former Schalke forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting returned to training on Wednesday after struggling with back and knee problems in recent weeks, but he is unlikely to unseat Mane as Thomas Tuchel's men aim to extend their unbeaten home record this term. Leroy Sane, who scored from the bench in Bremen, and Thomas Müller are vying to start in attack, but the in-form Serge Gnabry will almost certainly retain his place after hitting two goals in as many Bundesliga games.

So Schalke have a mountain of history to contend with at the Allianz Arena, but they also have pressing matters that require their focus in the present. In 15th place and two points above an automatic relegation spot, Thomas Reis' men remain in very real danger of the drop, despite having won three of their last four league games. Their 3-2 victory at Mainz on Matchday 31 lifted them out of the bottom three for the first time since early October, but with trips to Bayern and RB Leipzig sandwiching a home game with Eintracht Frankfurt, they face a nail-biting finale. Marius Bülter scored twice against Mainz, but did not take part in Tuesday's training session. However, the 11-goal forward will be available as Schalke seek to register their first league strike against Bayern in six matches and a first league win against the record German champions since December 2010. Indeed, Thomas Reis is unlikely to stray from his winning formula, meaning Japan international defender Maya Yoshida may have to content himself with a place on the bench once more.

Match stats

• Bayern have netted 12 of their 13 competitive goals since Tuchel took charge with Thomas Müller on the pitch, averaging a strike every 40 minutes with the number 25 playing, and only every 325 without him.
• Bayern have won all of the duo's last nine league meetings with a cumulative goal difference of 32-2, and all of the last five without conceding while scoring 22 times themselves.
• Bayern have only failed to claim the Bundesliga title once on the 28 previous occasions they have been top of the table with three games to go: in 1992/93, Werder Bremen passed them in the final strait.
• Bülter is the first player in Bundesliga history to score three penalties in added time at the end of a top-flight game, including his 90' 12 spot-kick winner at Mainz last time out.
• After picking up nine points in the Hinrunde, Schalke have collected 21 in the second half of the season, a tally which previously has never seen a team relegated from the Bundesliga.
• Ahmed Kutucu is the last Schalke player to score against Bayern in the Bundesliga, finding the net in a 3-1 defeat in Munich in February 2019.