Borussia Dortmund have another chance to clinch the Bundesliga title on Saturday while Hanover and Bayern Munich resume their battle for a place in Champions League qualifying.Dortmund hold a five-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen and will be champions if they beat Nuremberg and Leverkusen fail to win at ailing Rhine-area rivals Cologne.
Hanover are one point ahead of Munich again in their duel for third place with three games left.
Hanover host drop-zone club Borussia Moenchengladbach and Munich take on Schalke, with Schalke's heroic goalkeeper Manuel Neuer playing in what could his new home stadium from next season onwards.
Dortmund have seen a 12-point lead trimmed over the past weeks, but said that not even a 1-0 defeat on Sunday in Moenchengladbach will derail their title bid.
"We are not getting nervous just because we lose a game," said midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz. Defender Mats Hummels agreed: "I am quite certain that we will give the right answer on the field."
But visiting Nuremberg also need the points as the sixth-placed team is hoping to make up a two-point deficit on Mainz for the final Europa League berth.
Dortmund and Leverkusen are well aware of reversed roles back in 2002, when Bayer threw away a five-point lead in the final three rounds to gift Dortmund their so far last title.
"Under normal circumstances Dortmund will not relinquish the lead. But if they falter it would be terrible if we haven't done our home work. We must take all nine points," Leverkusen midfielder Hanno Balitsch told Thursday's edition of Kicker sports magazine.
Like Nuremberg, Cologne also badly need the points as they are fighting for survival again after three straight defeats.
There is plenty of turmoil as coach Frank Schaefer resigned on Wednesday, with sports director Volker Finke in charge. In addition, the club has taken legal action against persons unknown over death threats issued against the players.
Things are also tense in Munich where third place is a must, given that the 2012 Champions League final is in Munich and playing in the Europa League below the club's self-proclaimed standard.
Captain Philipp Lahm said that Munich have the class to achieve the goal, but that the mental side can not be underestimated. Munich were held 1-1 in Frankfurt last week as Hanover moved ahead again.
"The situation is critical. You always believe in it (third place), but the recent results are on your mind," said Lahm.
Lahm also expressed his hope that Neuer will be warmly received after several groups of fans voiced their strong dissent on plans to sign the Germany goalkeeper in summer, or next year at the latest.
Neuer made international headlines in midweek with many super saves in Schalke's 2-0 home defeat against Manchester United in the Champions League.
The action starts Friday with lowlands duels Werder Bremen v VfL Wolfsburg and Kaiserslautern v St Pauli Hamburg. The other Saturday games are SV Hamburg v SC Freiburg, Mainz v Frankfurt and Hoffenheim v VfB Stuttgart.
Hanover are one point ahead of Munich again in their duel for third place with three games left.
Hanover host drop-zone club Borussia Moenchengladbach and Munich take on Schalke, with Schalke's heroic goalkeeper Manuel Neuer playing in what could his new home stadium from next season onwards.
Dortmund have seen a 12-point lead trimmed over the past weeks, but said that not even a 1-0 defeat on Sunday in Moenchengladbach will derail their title bid.
"We are not getting nervous just because we lose a game," said midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz. Defender Mats Hummels agreed: "I am quite certain that we will give the right answer on the field."
But visiting Nuremberg also need the points as the sixth-placed team is hoping to make up a two-point deficit on Mainz for the final Europa League berth.
Dortmund and Leverkusen are well aware of reversed roles back in 2002, when Bayer threw away a five-point lead in the final three rounds to gift Dortmund their so far last title.
"Under normal circumstances Dortmund will not relinquish the lead. But if they falter it would be terrible if we haven't done our home work. We must take all nine points," Leverkusen midfielder Hanno Balitsch told Thursday's edition of Kicker sports magazine.
Like Nuremberg, Cologne also badly need the points as they are fighting for survival again after three straight defeats.
There is plenty of turmoil as coach Frank Schaefer resigned on Wednesday, with sports director Volker Finke in charge. In addition, the club has taken legal action against persons unknown over death threats issued against the players.
Things are also tense in Munich where third place is a must, given that the 2012 Champions League final is in Munich and playing in the Europa League below the club's self-proclaimed standard.
Captain Philipp Lahm said that Munich have the class to achieve the goal, but that the mental side can not be underestimated. Munich were held 1-1 in Frankfurt last week as Hanover moved ahead again.
"The situation is critical. You always believe in it (third place), but the recent results are on your mind," said Lahm.
Lahm also expressed his hope that Neuer will be warmly received after several groups of fans voiced their strong dissent on plans to sign the Germany goalkeeper in summer, or next year at the latest.
Neuer made international headlines in midweek with many super saves in Schalke's 2-0 home defeat against Manchester United in the Champions League.
The action starts Friday with lowlands duels Werder Bremen v VfL Wolfsburg and Kaiserslautern v St Pauli Hamburg. The other Saturday games are SV Hamburg v SC Freiburg, Mainz v Frankfurt and Hoffenheim v VfB Stuttgart.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire