Bayern take on struggling Cologne, Berlin hope to pick up pieces after Klinsi exit
>> BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will look to protect their one-point advantage with a win at strugglers Cologne tomorrow.
The Bavarians, on 43 points, are eager to bounce back from last week’s goalless draw against RB Leipzig, who are second and host relegation-threatened Werder Bremen.
Borussia Dortmund, third on 39, entertained Eintracht Frankfurt, who were unbeaten this year having won three of their four games since the winter break, last night.
Bayern could be without captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at Cologne as the Germany skipper has a virus, with reserve keeper Sven Ulreich on stand-by.
The reigning champions are bidding for a seventh win in eight league games, after being held to a goalless draw by Leipzig last Sunday.
“The problem was that both teams could live with this 0-0 draw,” admitted Bayern forward Thomas Mueller.
“In the end, neither team wanted to take the absolute risks, which meant we didn’t play to our strengths.”
Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin have little time to pick up the pieces of their failed collaboration with coach Juergen Klinsmann, who left the club after only eight weeks in charge, if they are to win their fight to avoid relegation.
The Berliners sit 14th in the Bundesliga standings, six points above the relegation play-off spot, despite having pumped more than €70 million into transfers over the winter period as requested by Klinsmann.
The former United States and
Germany coach arrived in late November ready to lead a “big club project” and saying Berlin deserved a big team like other major European cities.
But on Tuesday his project crashed before it had even taken flight.
His decision will no doubt hurt his own reputation in the Bundesliga, given that his only other league experience was a failed brief spell at Bayern Munich more than a decade ago. REUTERS/AFP
FIXTURES
(kick-offs 9.30pm Thai time unless stated)
Today
RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen, Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg, Augsburg v Freiburg, Paderborn v Hertha Berlin, Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen, Fortuna Duesseldorf v Borussia Moenchengladbach (00.30am, Sun)
Tomorrow
Cologne v Bayern Munich, Mainz v Schalke (midnight)