Bayer Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes says it is business as usual when they visit his future side Bayern Munich on Sunday in a crucial Bundesliga match for Champions League entry.Leverkusen lie second and would all but clinch direct entry into the elite event with a victory. Munich are nine
points behind Leverkusen in fourth and badly need the points in their bid for at least third place and a berth in Champions League qualifying.
Missing the Champions League would be a huge blow for Munich as next season's final will be in their home stadium and they consider the second-tier Europa League beneath their dignity.
Heynckes, 65, will leave Leverkusen for Munich after the season which adds plenty of spice to the game.
"The public interest will be very big, perhaps in me even more because I am going to Bayern," Heynckes told the German Press Agency dpa.
"From the situation of the standings I am looking at in quite a matter of fact way. For me it's a just a normal match - although a game in Munich always has a special fascination for everybody."
If that wasn't enough, Munich fired Louis van Gaal on Sunday after a 1-1 draw in Nuremberg and assistant Andries Jonker is now to salvage the season in the last five games.
Munich president Uli Hoeness said the players appeared to be casting off their "mental straitjacket" and Captain Philipp Lahm named Jonker "a very positive guy.
"Success comes before everything else at Bayern. The lack of success is our biggest problem at present, so we have to concentrate on the future. We have a target, and we have to hit it," said Lahm.
Heynckes will be aware of Munich's determination because he was hired as fireman there for the final stage in 2009 after the firing of Juergen Klinsmann and got them into the Champions League.
In yet another twist, Leverkusen's last win in Munich dates back to the 1989-90 season, a 1-0 during Heynckes' first term on the Bayern coaching bench.
Munich are without suspended Dutch winger Arjen Robben, sent off in Nuremberg after the final whistle after losing his temper and swearing at the referee.
Munich have won 26 of their 34 home games against Leverkusen, losing only twice and drawing six. The last overall dates between the two ended 1-1, a result that would help neither side on Sunday.
Leverkusen have won the last five league games and cut Borussia Dortmund's league lead from 12 to five points. Another success would keep the pressure on Dortmund, who host SC Freiburg in the other Sunday game.
Munich need to overhaul surprise package Hanover, who are one point ahead of them but face a tricky northern German derby at SV Hamburg.
Elsewhere and on Saturday, Champions League semi-finalists Schalke are at Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg play St Pauli Hamburg in a danger zone duel, Hoffenheim take on Eintracht Frankfurt, Cologne host VfB Stuttgart and Kaiserslautern face Nuremberg.
The 30th round starts on Friday with Mainz v bottom club Borussia Moenchengladbach.
points behind Leverkusen in fourth and badly need the points in their bid for at least third place and a berth in Champions League qualifying.
Missing the Champions League would be a huge blow for Munich as next season's final will be in their home stadium and they consider the second-tier Europa League beneath their dignity.
Heynckes, 65, will leave Leverkusen for Munich after the season which adds plenty of spice to the game.
"The public interest will be very big, perhaps in me even more because I am going to Bayern," Heynckes told the German Press Agency dpa.
"From the situation of the standings I am looking at in quite a matter of fact way. For me it's a just a normal match - although a game in Munich always has a special fascination for everybody."
If that wasn't enough, Munich fired Louis van Gaal on Sunday after a 1-1 draw in Nuremberg and assistant Andries Jonker is now to salvage the season in the last five games.
Munich president Uli Hoeness said the players appeared to be casting off their "mental straitjacket" and Captain Philipp Lahm named Jonker "a very positive guy.
"Success comes before everything else at Bayern. The lack of success is our biggest problem at present, so we have to concentrate on the future. We have a target, and we have to hit it," said Lahm.
Heynckes will be aware of Munich's determination because he was hired as fireman there for the final stage in 2009 after the firing of Juergen Klinsmann and got them into the Champions League.
In yet another twist, Leverkusen's last win in Munich dates back to the 1989-90 season, a 1-0 during Heynckes' first term on the Bayern coaching bench.
Munich are without suspended Dutch winger Arjen Robben, sent off in Nuremberg after the final whistle after losing his temper and swearing at the referee.
Munich have won 26 of their 34 home games against Leverkusen, losing only twice and drawing six. The last overall dates between the two ended 1-1, a result that would help neither side on Sunday.
Leverkusen have won the last five league games and cut Borussia Dortmund's league lead from 12 to five points. Another success would keep the pressure on Dortmund, who host SC Freiburg in the other Sunday game.
Munich need to overhaul surprise package Hanover, who are one point ahead of them but face a tricky northern German derby at SV Hamburg.
Elsewhere and on Saturday, Champions League semi-finalists Schalke are at Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg play St Pauli Hamburg in a danger zone duel, Hoffenheim take on Eintracht Frankfurt, Cologne host VfB Stuttgart and Kaiserslautern face Nuremberg.
The 30th round starts on Friday with Mainz v bottom club Borussia Moenchengladbach.
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