adminBERLIN. — Bayern Munich need a convincing win at German Bundesliga bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig today to dismiss talk of a mini-crisis ahead of their Champions League soccer semi-final at Real Madrid.
With only two wins in their last six games, Bayern have suffered a dip since winning the Bundesliga nearly a month ago with a record seven games to spare.
Bayern booked their place in next month’s German Cup final with a 5-1 drubbing of second division Kaiserslautern in Wednesday’s semi-final in Munich.
But Munich’s director of sport Matthias Sammer said while the scoreline was impressive, the performance was lacking spark.
Bayern have lost back-to-back league matches, an obvious concern ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, first leg at Real Madrid.
“I had the feeling that we’re not really running hot at the moment,” said Sammer, who questioned Bayern’s desire to win the Champions League and German Cup finals.
“For the tasks we are facing, that’s not enough. We have to ask ourselves if we still want to win these two titles.”
On paper, Bayern’s trip to Braunschweig looks straightforward, but the hosts have picked up seven points in their last four games to boost their survival bid.
Braunschweig are without injured captain and striker Domi Kumbela, a rich source of goals for them in recent weeks, and are just three points from safety.
Bayern will be without right-back Rafinha, who is serving a three-match ban after being sent off in last Saturday’s 3-0 league defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund. There is also a question mark over Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who missed the mid-week game with a calf strain.
It remains to be seen whether coach Pep Guardiola rests his squad or looks for some continuity by naming a strong team four days before the trip to Real.
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund host Mainz looking to pick up their fifth straight win having booked their German Cup final berth against Bayern on May 17.
Fixtures
Today: Borussia Dortmund v Mainz 05, Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim, Freiburg v Bor. Moenchengladbach, Augsburg v Hertha Berlin, Eintracht Braunschweig v Bayern Munich, Hamburg v VfL Wolfsburg
Tomorrow: Nuremberg v Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart v Schalke 04 — AFP.
Online Reporter