No snoozing for leaders Leipzig in race for title
>> BERLIN: RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann is trying to ensure the Bundesliga leaders stay alert at Eintracht Frankfurt this weekend amid an intensifying title race by organising a sleep seminar.
Bayern Munich’s seven-year domination in Germany is under threat with Leipzig, Gladbach, Dortmund and Schalke all in the hunt for this season’s title.
Leipzig travel to mid-table Frankfurt looking to maintain their four-point lead over second-placed Bayern and extend a 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Striker Timo Werner is level with Bayern star Robert Lewandowski as the league’s joint top scorer with 20 goals after netting twice in last weekend’s 3-1 home win over
Union Berlin.
In an effort to squeeze every advantage, Nagelsmann brought in sleep experts to brief his squad about getting better rest between games.
“It was about improving sleep quality — sleeping in the right rhythms and spending less time checking the mobile or watching television in the evening to keep blue light to a minimum,” explained Nagelsmann.
Leipzig were caught napping when Union took a shock first-half lead last Saturday before Werner scored either side of a goal by captain Marcel Sabitzer.
“We need to be completely greedy in wanting to defend our goal and give nothing away,” Nagelsmann warned.
Leipzig snapped up promising goalkeeper Josep Martinez from Las Palmas in midweek and are reportedly close to signing Dinamo Zagreb’s Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo as well.
Bayern host high-flying Schalke, who clawed back into the title picture with a 2-0 home win over Gladbach following the winter break.
The defending champions have strengthened their injuryhit defence by signing right-back Alvaro Odriozola on loan from Real Madrid.
Schalke last beat Bayern in 2011, but David Wagner’s side has improved since the 3-0 home loss to the Bavarians in August when Lewandowski bagged a hat-trick. AFP
FIXTURES
(kick-offs 9.30pm Thai time unless stated) Today Moenchengladbach v Mainz, Wolfsburg v Hertha Berlin, Eintracht Frankfurt v RB Leipzig, Freiburg v Paderborn, Union Berlin v Augsburg, Bayern Munich v Schalke (00.30am, Sun)
Tomorrow
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen v Fortuna Duesseldorf (midnight)