Bayern eager to carry winning momentum into German Cup
Swazi police pull off Cup shock
BERLIN, April 6, (Agencies): Bayern Munich’s treble ambitions are put to the test on Wednesday in the German Cup quarter-final when their injury-hit side travel to in-form Bayer Leverkusen.
The Bavarians, runaway leaders in the Bundesliga and through to the Champions League last eight where they face Porto later this month, are eager to repeat their 2013 treble-winning campaign as the season enters its final stretch.
A 1-0 league victory at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday despite a string of absences was crucial to boost their confidence ahead of the Cup game, keeper Manuel Neuer said. ferently but I have to adapt the system to my players.”
Guardiola, in his second season in charge after winning the domestic double last year, will have the chance to slightly alter his system again with midfielder Thiago Alcantara making a comeback on Saturday after more than a year out injured.
The addition of the skilled Spain international is undoubtedly a major asset when they take on Leverkusen, who crushed Hamburg SV 4-0 in their league game on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund aim to win this season’s German Cup to keep alive their hopes of European competition next season ahead of Tuesday’s quarter-final against Hoffenheim.
Dortmund host Hoffenheim
while Wolfsburg are home to Freiburg on Tuesday, then holders Bayern are at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday as second-division Arminia Bielefeld host Borussia Moenchengladbach in the rounds only non-Bundesliga tie.
Borussia’s 1-0 league defeat at home to Bayern on Saturday left them tenth in the table and effectively ended their hopes of a fifth year in the Champions League next season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are now 15 points from qualifying with a top four finish following a dire set of results earlier in the season which left them bottom of the Bundesliga in February.
But the 2012 German Cup winners could yet claim a Europa League berth, either by winning this year’s final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium or a top six finish in the Bundesliga table.
“The cup game is now very important for us. Going to Berlin is still a major goal for the season,” said Dortmund’s director of sport Michael Zorc.
“And although it is still far away, it is of course a way to get back into international competition.”
Dortmund have to rediscover their scoring touch at home after failing to claim a single goal in any of their last three games at Borussia’s Westfalenstadion in all competitions.
“We can give ourselves a big boost for the rest of the season with a good result and performance against Hoffenheim,” said Germany midfielder Sven Bender.