admin
BERLIN. — They may have a 13-point lead at the top of the German Bundesliga and be on a 43-match unbeaten run but Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has warned his team to stay focused. The Bavarian giants host Eintracht Frankfurt at Munich’s Allianz Arena tomorrow with wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben both back in contention after leg injuries.
But despite their status as overwhelming favourites to retain the title this season, Guardiola says they cannot afford to take their eye off the ball, particularly following Wednesday’s last-minute 2-1 victory at VfB Stuttgart.
“If a team doesn’t lose 43 times and everyone says that the Bundesliga (title-race) is over, with the championship is secured, it’s not easy for the player’s to stay focused,” said Guardiola.
“To always win, win, win – I know how difficult that is.”
The victory gave Bayern yet another league record as they went 28 away matches unbeaten, breaking Hamburg’s previous mark of 27 set in 1983. Last season they broke or equalled 25 Bundesliga records, winning the title with a record six games to spare, as they finished up with a 25-point margin. Stuttgart came the closest of any team to beating Bayern in the league this season until Thiago Alcantara’s last-minute bicycle kick broke their resistance.
That was enough to see the rest of the league as good as throw in the towel as far as the Bundesliga is concerned.
Guardiola has not even had his entire squad available so far this season with Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger the main star currently sidelined with a knee injury.
And Bayern’s main rivals Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen both admit that they are fighting for second place at best.
“Bayern aren’t from this world at the moment,” said Leverkusen’s director of sport Rudi Voeller, whose team are second despite three successive defeats.
Fixtures
Today (4:30pm unless stated): Schalke 04 v VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen v VfB Stuttgart, Hoffenheim v Hamburg, Mainz v Freiburg, Augsburg v Werder Bremen, Hanover 96 v Borussia Moenchengladbach (7:30pm)
Tomorrow: Hertha Berlin v Nuremberg (4:30pm), Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (6:30pm)
German Bundesliga table
Online Reporter