In the 2017/18 Bundesliga season, Schalke finished second to Bayern Munich. Schalke might have been 21 points behind the league champs but also finished eight points clear of Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen,
and Hoffenheim. Only three years later, Schalke was finished dead last and was relegated to the second division. Schalke quickly recovered to earn promotion the next season, only to drop back down again.
Schalke’s fall is a distant memory from the days when a young Manuel Neuer led them to the Champions League three times, between 2006 and 2010. Schalke had a fantastic Hinrunde and currently sit atop the 2. Bundesliga table.
“[Promotion] would be wonderful, of course,” said Neuer (via @iMiaSanMia). “They’ve waited a long time for it and perhaps didn’t expect that this start with the new coach would go so well. At the beginning, some might have been a bit skeptical, but they’re doing well. They’re staying true to themselves, they’re following the coach and the coaching staff. You can really see that they’re working hard and that they now have everything in their own hands. But ultimately, it’s important that they stay focused and that they continue to play their game.”
Neuer has never lost to Schalke, notching 17 wins and three draws over the last decade. If the 2026/27 season is Neuer’s last, it would be a nice touch to finish his career in a match against the club that gave him his big break a couple decades ago.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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