Bayern resume title quest with Leverkusen trip

BERLIN: Franck Ribery warned Bayern Munich face a tricky test at Bayer Leverkusen on Friday as they resume their march towards a sixth straight Bundesliga title following the German winter break.

Jupp Heynckes’s team are 11 points clear of second- place Schalke but Leverkusen, who are two points further back in fourth, are unbeaten in 14 matches dating back to September under exDortmund coach Heiko Herrlich.

Bayern rounded out 2 017 with six successive wins in all competitions, surging into the new year firmly on course to retain their title after a brief wobble that cost Carlo Ancelotti his job in September.

But Leverkusen are looking to become only the third club after Hoffenheim and Borussia Moenchengladbach to beat Bayern in the league this season.

With six goals and four assists, Leverkusen’s outstanding player in the first half of the season was 20-year-old Jamaican winger Leon Bailey, who has thrived since joining from Belgian club Genk last January.

Both Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski and defender Mats Hummels are recovering from knee and groin injuries respectively, while right- back Joshua Kimmich has a cold.

Leverkusen warmed up for Bayern with a 2- 2 draw in a friendly against third- t ier Preussen Muenster as Argentina striker Lucas Alario netted both goals following his recovery from a groin injury.

Bayern stepped up thei r preparations with a 5- 3 win over third- division Grossaspach on Tuesday when veteran winger Franck Ribery, 34, scored three goals in a starring display.

“It will be tough at Leverkusen and we will have to give our all to win there,” said the Frenchman.

Ribery and Arjen Robben are out of contract at the end of the season, but both hope to be offered an extension in the coming months.

“I have five months left and there are always many options,” said Ribery.

Likewise, Bayern are trying to talk Heynckes into staying on as head coach past the end of the season.

The 72-year- old insists he will leave in May, having turned the team’s fortunes around since replacing Ancelotti when Bayern were five points adrift of thenleaders Borussia Dortmund. — AFP (All times 1430 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich (1930)

Saturday

Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg Augsburg v Hamburg Hanover 96 v Mainz Stuttgart v Hertha Berlin RB Leipzig v Schalke (1730)

Sunday

Cologne v Borussia Moenchengladbach Borussia Dortmund v Wolfsburg (1700)

Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery takes part in a training during their winter training camp at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in the Qatari capital Doha in this Jan 5 file photo. — AFP photo

Nottingham Forest’s US defender Eric Lichaj (right) scores the team’s second goal during the English FA Cup third round match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England in this Jan 7 file photo. — AFP photo