Schalke boss Felix Magath is "convinced" Bayern Munich will drop
more points - and he hopes his side can capitalise to win the
Bundesliga.
The title race looks set to go to the wire this season but
Magath declared for the first time after Schalke's 3-1 win over
Borussia Monchengladbach that his side are serious title
contenders.
"I am convinced that Bayern are going to drop some points,"
he said.
"I don't think that they can win every game given the added
strain of the Champions League.
"Bayern are close to the final and I think that is more
important to the players than a game in Gladbach.
"We now have a very big chance to win the league, and that is
our aim."
Schalke temporarily went top of the league with the win but
Bayern later swept Hannover to one side with an emphatic 7-0 win,
showing that they are coping more than just fine with strain.
And their chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had some advice for
his club's former manager Magath.
"There is a fantastic advert from one of Schalke's partners
which says 'look, don't touch'," he told Sport1 television.
Bayern remain on course for the title with a two-point
cushion over their rivals, but equally important is the boost the
7-0 triumph gave to their goal difference, which is now 14 superior
to Schalke's
That practically gives them a three-point cushion with three
games remaining, leaving a big smile on the face of coach Louis van
Gaal and 69,000 others in the Allianz Arena.
"It was wonderful today and the fans enjoyed it too," he
said. "I am happy that we let the ball do the work today.
"That is the most important thing and we, of course, have
players who can then make the difference, and I don't mean only
(Arjen) Robben."
Bayern now prepare to welcome Olympique Lyon to the Allianz
Arena on Wednesday before travelling to Monchengladbach next
weekend.
After the Champions League semi-final second leg in France
three days later, they finish their Bundesliga campaign with a home
game against Bochum and a trip to relegation-threatened Hertha
Berlin on the final day of the season.
Schalke head to Berlin next weekend before hosting Werder
Bremen and then travelling to Mainz on May 8, when the title will
probably be decided.
