Karius silences Bayern to earn man of the match on Schalke return to Bundesliga

Loris Karius delivered a man-of-the-match display as newly promoted Schalke held Bayern Munich to a goalless draw in the Bundesliga, ending the champions’ run of 59 consecutive competitive games in which they had scored. The result also snapped a 67-matchday streak of Bayern finishing a Bundesliga weekend at the top of the table.

Karius, 33, was the central figure in one of the more remarkable results of the early Bundesliga season, making a string of saves that frustrated the reigning champions throughout. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was among the first to acknowledge the performance.

“Loris Karius was very good and definitely the right choice for Man of the Match,” Neuer said. “We had three big chances that he kept out. That was definitely key to us not winning this game.”

Karius was quick to deflect credit to his team-mates. “It was great for me,” he said. “I only had to shout to keep going, move up, drop back. Real credit to the guys for what they did. They kept so much away and made things so incredibly hard for Bayern. The guys really worked hard until they couldn’t go anymore. Everyone today can be proud of their performance.”

The result carries a personal dimension for Karius, who joined Schalke as a free agent in January 2025 following the expiry of his contract at Newcastle United. The move was made against the initial wishes of his wife, Italian television presenter Diletta Leotta, who had hoped he would join her in Italy, where she is involved in Serie A broadcasting.

Karius addressed the situation publicly at the time of his signing. “Of course she was hoping a little for Italy,” he told reporters. “I explained it to her. She wishes me the best in my career and said she is fully behind it. Milan is not far away. We can find ways to solve it. She has a lot to do too, so we will both be commuting back and forth a bit.”

He also spoke about the scrutiny that comes with both partners being public figures. “If your partner is also in the public eye, it’s clear that something will be reported. But I never actively pushed myself into it. For me, the sport was always the priority.”

Karius had initially joined Schalke as backup to Justin Heekeren, but his performance against Bayern suggests he has staked a strong claim for a more prominent role as the club look to establish themselves back in the top flight after promotion. Schalke had lost their opening match of the season against Augsburg before producing this result against the champions.