Bayern eye goalfest against Werder, Freiburg face tough away test
>> BERLIN: Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich can expect a goal bonanza as they look to build on their 13-point lead at home to Werder Bremen tomorrow.
Bremen, who are third from bottom, have leaked 32 goals on their last six visits to the Allianz Arena.
Bayern midfielder Javi Martinez is set to play his 100th Bundesliga match against Bremen.
The 29-year-old was used as a centre-back under Jupp Heynckes’ predecessors Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti.
The Spanish international has been a force to be reckoned with since Heynckes moved him back into his preferred position in midfield in October.
Martinez scored his first league goal in the 3-1 win at Leverkusen last Friday night in what his coach described as a “flawless display”.
Injury-free and bossing Bayern’s midfield, the tough-tackling Spaniard has been a big reason the Bavarians have won 17 matches since Heynckes replaced Ancelotti in October.
Schalke’s goalscoring centre-back Naldo can equal the amount of Bundesliga appearances for a Brazilian at Hanover tomorrow.
With 335 appearances in Germany’s top flight, Naldo is just one short of Bayern Munich’s now-retired midfielder Ze Roberto.
And the 35-year-old will likely streak past that mark as he has just signed a deal which will keep him in Gelsenkirchen until just before his 37th birthday.
RB Leipzig will be without Liverpool-bound Naby Keita for today’s tough away clash at Freiburg. Keita is suspended and playmaker Emil Forsberg is out an injury.
Freiburg are just above the relegation places, but on the rise and unbeaten in their last six league games.
“We have broken a run or two in the last few years, we know it will be hard there, but perhaps that is the motivation we need,” said Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl.