Bayern Munich out to silence critics as Bundesliga returns
berlin — Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich will be looking to silence their critics with victory over Mainz in the Bundesliga this Saturday.
A 3-0 victory over Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday was overshadowed by reports of internal disharmony in Munich. The German media have reported growing discord between coach Ancelotti and leading players such as Thomas Mueller, Franck Ribery and Robert Lewandowski.
Borussia Dortmund host Cologne on Sunday, as they look to bounce back from defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.
Jerome Boateng looks set to make his Bundesliga return against Mainz, having been sidelined through injury since May 20.
“We need to play more as a team, with more concentration,” said the defender amid reports of dressing room disharmony this week.
Mueller may also return to the starting line-up, as Ancelotti looks to rotate his squad after Tuesday’s Champions League fixture.
Mainz coach Sandro Schwarz is expected to pick the same team which cantered to a 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last weekend. Dortmund will be looking to return to their free-scoring ways against Cologne after a disappointing 0-0 draw in Freiburg last weekend.
Star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be expected to deliver, though his record against Sunday’s opponents is hardly encouraging. Cologne remain the only Bundesliga team against whom Aubameyang has never scored. After both Marcel Schmelzer and Marc Bartra picked up injuries against Freiburg, Omer Toprak and Jeremy Toljan are expected to start in defence. Cologne coach Peter Stoeger may well rest some key players after their Europa League opener against Arsenal on Thursday. Champions League goalscorer Emil Forsberg is expected to be rested for RB Leipzig’s clash with Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Forsberg scored Leipzig’s first ever Champions League goal in their 1-1 draw with Monaco on Wednesday. Attention now turns to Saturday’s game, as Leipzig look to show they can deal with a busy schedule. They are still without midfield star Naby Keita, who was sidelined with a groin injury against Monaco.