BAYERN WANT SILVERWARE
Defender Hummels says focus on Bundesliga crown and German Cup
BERLIN crunch German Cup semi-final home to Borussia Dortmund.
“We still need to get the league title under lock and key, plus we have a real cracker in the cup. That will be a highlight,” said Hummels, whose side dropped two points in last weekend’s goalless draw in Leverkusen.
Hummels, Robert Lewandowski and Jerome Boateng were all carrying knocks in Madrid and coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rotate before facing Dortmund.
Bayern are already without Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the rest of the season with a fractured foot.
Sven Ulreich will deputise, while Bayern are without Spain defender Javi Martinez, who has a leg knock.
Mainz were the last Bundesliga club to beat Bayern at home when they poached a 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena in March 2016.
However, Martin Schmidt’s side are 15th, only avoiding the relegation places on goal difference, although they broke a fivematch losing streak with a 1-0 win home to Hertha Berlin last weekend.
Schmidt does not expect Bayern to suffer a Champions League hangover.
“They have a top-class team which will challenge us. It would be fatal to hope for a tired opponent,” he said.
Dortmund are also looking to heal their European heartache when they face Borussia Moenchengladbach away today.
Thomas Tuchel’s side also bowed out of the quarter-finals after losing 3-1 to Monaco in Wednesday’s return leg, but are battling for an automatic place in next season’s Champions League.
The Bundesliga’s top three finishers are all guaranteed places in the Champions League group stages and Dortmund are fourth, a point behind Hoffenheim, which carries a play-off for a Champions League berth.
Tuchel is also likely to rotate with just 50 hours between Dortmund’s Monaco defeat and kick-off in Gladbach, who are missing playmaker Raffael with a knee injury.
Second-placed Leipzig are snapping at Bayern’s heels with four straight wins before tomorrow ’s away match at Schalke, while Hoffenheim are at Cologne early today.
Just one more win will guarantee Hoffenheim European football next season having narrowly avoided relegation last term.
In contrast, Cologne have dropped out of contention for a Champions League spot with two wins in their last 10 games. AFP