Bayern await champions challenge

By Mark Bennett

All eyes will be on the Olympiastadion on Saturday when Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München encounter reigning champions Werder Bremen.

Decisive win
In Munich last May, Bremen clinched their fourth title with a 3-1 win at Bayern. Ivan Klasnic, an injury doubt tomorrow with a thigh strain, Johan Micoud and now departed Ailton put Bremen three up by half-time with Roy Makaay's goal scant consolation. However, Bayern did win 2-1 at Bremen in October.

Kahn warning
Bayern and FC Schalke 04 are four points clear of third-placed Bremen but captain Oliver Kahn has issued a warning to any team-mates complacent after crushing SC Freiburg 7-0 in the German Cup on Wednesday. "Bremen are our biggest rivals at the moment," the goalkeeper said. "They seem to have the ability to score four or five goals in every Bundesliga match. In my opinion they are more dangerous than Schalke."

'Not scared'
Indeed, Bremen midfielder Ludovic Magnin is optimistic of repeating 2004's Olympiastadion success. "We respect Bayern but we are not scared of them," he said. "We won there last season and we are capable of winning there again."

Ruhr derby
With their main title rivals colliding and one side definitely dropping points, Schalke could be the big winners if they take all three at local rivals VfL Bochum 1848. The home team are in the relegation zone and Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick declared: "Bochum have not dealt with pressure well this season and they are under a lot of pressure to beat us."

Leverkusen ambition
Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who like Bayern and Bremen are in UEFA Champions League action in midweek, travel to Hamburger SV with coach Klaus Augenthaler insisting they can close the eight-point gap to the leaders. "We want to make up lost ground," he said. Also on Saturday, VfB Stuttgart - level with Leverkusen - welcome a DSC Arminia Bielefeld side fresh from reaching their first cup semi-final, and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach play VfL Wolfsburg.

Relegation rivals
Lower down, 1. FSV Mainz 05 can move further away from the relegation zone when they meet second-bottom SC Freiburg, and basement team FC Hansa Rostock go to Hannover 96. On Sunday, fourth-placed Hertha BSC Berlin welcome 1. FC Kaiserslautern and struggling 1. FC Nürnberg play BV Borussia Dortmund.