New Straits Times

Landmark for Lewandowsk­i

- Forced to wear a ballerina’s tutu in training.

BERLIN: Robert Lewandowsk­i will celebrate his 200th appearance for Bayern Munich this weekend, as the Polish superstar looks to continue his explosive early-season form when Bayern host Bayer Leverkusen today.

Lewandowsk­i, who has 157 goals in 199 appearance­s in his Bayern career so far, has found the net six times in competitiv­e games this term, and is already a firm favourite to become Bundesliga top scorer this season.

Along with Schalke and RB Leipzig, Leverkusen are one of several big teams who are hoping to bounce back from a disastrous start to the campaign.

Elsewhere, today will see the Bundesliga’s oldest and youngest coaches go head to head in Duesseldor­f.

Here are five things to look out for in this weekend’s Bundesliga action:

• PACO Alcacer is hoping to make his first appearance for Borussia Dortmund this weekend after arriving on loan from Barcelona.

Dortmund hope that the former Valencia hitman can be the solution to their problems in the centre-forward position

“Paco links up with team-mates well and is very skillful in front of goal,” said Dortmund coach Lucien Favre.

Dortmund will be without USA internatio­nal Christian Pulisic, who is still struggling with a muscular issue.

• RB LEIPZIG have also made a wobbly start to their Bundesliga campaign, and coach Ralf Rangnick will be hoping that his “wheel of misfortune” can turn his team’s luck around.

Leipzig have picked up just one point from their opening two games, and host a well-discipline­d Hanover side today.

As Bild revealed this week, Leipzig players no longer receive fines for indiscreti­ons, but instead have to spin the wheel of misfortune.

The wheel can land on any of 12 different punishment­s, ranging from groundskee­ping duties and shifts in the club fan shop to being

• THE Bundesliga’s oldest coach will meet its youngest when Fortuna Duesseldor­f host Hoffenheim today.

Friedhelm Funkel, 64, is hoping to avoid relegation with Duesseldor­f this year, while 31-year-old Julian Nagelsmann will lead Hoffenheim into the Champions League next week.

“Thankfully, it’s going to be eleven players against eleven players on Saturday,” Funkel joked. “If I had to play one-on-one against Julian, I wouldn’t stand a chance!”

 ??  ?? Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowsk­i will be playing in his 200th match for the club when they face Bayer Leverkusen today.
Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowsk­i will be playing in his 200th match for the club when they face Bayer Leverkusen today.

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