Bayern Munich's eight-game winning run has finally pulled it even
with Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga, with only goal
difference separating the two teams.
Both have potentially tough games in the upcoming 22nd round
of games. Bayern hosts Borussia Dortmund, which is hoping to snap a
two-game losing streak. Leverkusen hosts defending champion
Wolfsburg, which hasn't won in nine games and is coming off a 3-1
loss to Bayern.
While Bayern and Leverkusen, both on 45 points, play
Saturday, third-place Schalke (42) plays Sunday against Cologne.
Bayern is on a roll. Louis van Gaal's team warmed up for
Dortmund by beating second-division Greuther Fuerth 6-2 to reach
the semifinals of the German Cup.
But the record 14-time German Cup winner struggled in the
first half and trailed 2-1 at the break. Van Gaal had some angry
words during the interval and Bayern scored five unanswered goals
in the second half.
"I was very angry at halftime because we just can't lose
against a team like Greuther Fuerth," van Gaal said. "But the
second half was very good."
"It's good that we are still in all three competitions and
that we have only one more match before the German Cup final," he
added.
Franck Ribery started for the first time since October and
scored a goal and had assists on two others before van Gaal
substituted him in the 73rd minute.
The Frenchman was visibly upset, but van Gaal said he wants
to slowly integrate Ribery into the team after the winger's long
absence due to various injuries.
"I want him to start against Fiorentina and to play for 90
minutes," van Gaal said of the upcoming Champions League game next
week.
"We shouldn't forget that Franck has played only two full
games in the last eight months," van Gaal said. "I have to build
him up and integrate him into the team."
Leverkusen remains the only unbeaten team after 21 Bundesliga
rounds and has set a club record by remaining at the top for 14
straight weeks. It will be hoping to maintain its record of never
having lost to Wolfsburg at home.
Down in 12th place, Wolfsburg is in a deep slump and the
firing of coach Armin Veh hasn't lifted the malaise. His
replacement, Lorenz-Guenther Koestner, might be only an interim
solution if Wolfsburg doesn't start winning soon.
Last season about this time, Wolfsburg began a 10-game
winning streak that brought it its first championship. But that was
under coach Felix Magath, who is hoping to pull off a similar feat
at Schalke. Schalke is also in the semifinals of the German Cup
thanks to a 1-0 win over third-division Osnabrueck and will next
face Bayern in the semis.
Borussia Moenchengladbach kicks off the 22nd round against
Nuremberg on Friday. Also Saturday, it's Stuttgart vs. Hamburger
SV, Bochum vs. Hoffenheim, Hannover vs. Werder Bremen and Hertha
Berlin vs. Mainz. Eintracht Frankfurt plays Freiburg on Sunday.
