Bayern eye more records in league finale
BERLIN (AFP) –
Bayern Munich’s head coach Jupp Heynckes (L) speaks to his players during a training session in Munich, southern Germany, on May 14, 2013. Bayern Munich wrap up their record-breaking Bundesliga season on Saturday at Borussia Moenchengladbach with 20 records in their sights and with Heynckes to end his German league career at the club where he began in 1963.
Bayern Munich wrap up their record-breaking Bundesliga season on Saturday at Borussia Moenchengladbach with 20 records in their sights and with coach Jupp Heynckes to end his German league career at the club where he began in 1963.
While Bayern’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund in Wembley on May 25 looms ever larger, Heynckes’ side finish their league campaign having already lifted the Bundesliga shield with a massive party in Munich last Saturday.
Bayern can finish with 23 Bundesliga records having already achieved the key landmarks for most league points in a season (88), most wins (28) and they are set to break the record of 21 goals conceded in a season with the current tally on 15.
Their 22-point lead over second-placed Dortmund in the league table is also a record, but while their fans finalise their Wembley plans, Heynckes is focused on claiming their 29th win from 34 league games at ‘Gladbach.
“Moenchengladbach is my home town, I spent 23 years at Borussia, so this is no normal game for me and it’ll be my last Bundesliga game as a coach,” said 68-year-old Heynckes, who played for ‘Gladbach as a striker, then later coached the club.
Dortmund’s midfielder Nuri Sahin takes part in a training session in Dortmund, Germany on May 15, 2013. Dortmund host relegation-threatened Hoffenheim on Saturday with the guests needing a win and hoping rivals Augsburg, who host bottom side Greuther Fuerth, and Fortuna Duesseldorf, who are at Hanover 96, both lose so they can stay in Germany’s top flight.
Heynckes will be replaced by ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola next month, but the current squad are hungry for titles.
Bayern held their Champions League media open day on Tuesday with 190 reporters from 18 countries quizzing stars Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller about what will be their third European final in four years.
Heynckes held a team-talk on Tuesday morning to motivate his team in their bid to win the treble of European, cup and league titles having also reached the German Cup final on June 1 against VfB Stuttgart in Berlin.
“Yes, of course, the Champions League final is already in a few minds,” said Bayern captain Lahm.
“We have gone close in recent years and want to bring the trophy to Munich, that’s clear.
“But it’s not as though you think about it every minute, we have celebrated the league title and the hard work begins again now.”
Stuttgart’s Vedad Ibisevic and Ibrahima Traore (L) celebrate scoring in the match against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on May 11, 2013.
Dortmund host relegation-threatened Hoffenheim on Saturday with the guests needing a win and hoping rivals Augsburg, who host bottom side Greuther Fuerth, and Fortuna Duesseldorf, who are at Hanover 96, both lose so they can stay in Germany’s top flight.
“A miracle worker was not ordered yet,” quipped coach Mark Gisdol before the trip to Champions League finalists Dortmund with Hoffenheim having spent the last five seasons in Germany’s top flight.
“Borussia will play at full strength, it will not make the task easier, but there is a chance in each game and we have to exploit it when ours comes.”
Either Augsburg or Fortuna, who are just two points clear of Hoffenheim, could yet be relegated depending on Saturday’s results.
“I will be informed about what is happening in the other places, but I have it in my mind that above all we must win,” said Gisdol.
There is a lifeline for the team who finishes 16th in the league — currently Augsburg — who face a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off against Kaiserslautern, who finished third in the second division, on May 23 and 27.
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Hoffenheim, Borussia M’gladbach v Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart v Mainz 05, Hanover 96 v Fortuna Duesseldorf, Nuremberg v Werder Bremen, Freiburg v Schalke 04, Augsburg v Greuther Fuerth, Hamburg v Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt v VfL Wolfsburg