Bayern's Germany core sign off on a high

Bayern’s red-hot form can only be a good thing for Germany. Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane all started in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, with Thomas Müller the only Germany absentee, as he continued his recuperation from a minor hip injury.

Bayern didn’t need him. This was a solid if unspectacular performance, bookended by two moments of quality in front of goal, one in each half. Musiala was untouchable again here, a ball of energy and a hub of invention. He laid on both goals, the first for Gnabry and the second for Choupo Moting, who Hansi Flick must wish had pledged his international allegiance to Germany, rather than Cameroon.

Musiala's in-game intelligence and ability to always pick the right pass at the right time was too much for Schalke to handle. The Royal Blues doubled up on him but to little effect, with his deft flick for Gnabry and through ball for Choupo Moting the kind of flashes of brilliance that made Flick put his trust in Musiala at Bayern when he was still 17. He goes to Qatar at 19 and with the world at his feet.

"Jamal Musiala has again assisted two goals, he has played an outstanding first half and will hopefully play the World Cup and also the second half of the season even better," Nagelsmann said. "He listens well, wants to develop also in defense, where he has developed greatly. He has extremely lively feet, like snake legs. He has simply got so much talent."

Flick factor could be key

Given Bayern's domestic dominance over the past decade, Germany's squads have naturally had a strong Bayern flavor to them. Since 2010, Germany have named between six and eight Bayern players in their squad, with that number steadily rising in recent years and weighted towards midfielders and forwards.

The compelling difference at this World Cup is that all seven of Flick's Bayern selections have played under and won silverware with him and are all familiar with his approach. There is no one better placed to replicate their understanding at club level in Qatar. This offers the greatest reason for German optimism at this World Cup.

"It pleases me that the Bayern players who also play for the national team have performed well. That will also be important for us as a team," Neuer told German broadcaster ARD after the game. "We can take this momentum with us, we are looking forward to the World Cup."

Gnabry takes his chance

Musiala wasn't the only Germany player to impress in red. Gnabry did himself no harm in Gelsenkirchen after his hat-trick against Werder Bremen in midweek, and like Jonas Hofmann on Friday night, was auditioning to start Germany’s World Cup opener against Japan on November 23. This has been a decent, if not vintage, season for Gnabry, who at 27 heads to his second World Cup at his peak, but has struggled to find consistency under Nagelsmann.

Goretzka was in cruise control at his old stomping ground, sitting deep alongside Kimmich when Bayern were in possession, with those two the fulcrum of the Germany’s midfield. In Müller’s absence, Sane was deployed as a central attacking midfielder, and Neuer kept the ball out of his net on the few occasions that he was tested.

It was another good night for Bayern, who will have at least a four-point cushion at the top of the Bundesliga during the break. And when things are going well for Bayern, that’s usually a good sign for Germany.

Edited by: Matt Pearson