File picture of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola speaking with Mario Goetze.
DPA/Berlin
Champions Bayern Munich face last season’s runners-up Wolfsburg today in a Bundesliga showdown in a midweek programme which also sees leaders Borussia Dortmund travel to struggling Hoffenheim.
After five matches Dortmund and Bayern are neck-and neck with a maximum 15 points in what is once again a familiar look to the table after Dortmund’s struggles last season.
With Thomas Tuchel now in charge after the departure of Juergen Klopp, Dortmund have had a record start to the season with 11 victories out of 11 in all competitions.
Following an impressive 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen Sunday, Tuchel’s side will be confident of maintaining their perfect record at Hoffenheim, who have a solitary point.
“We have a very good idea of where we are at right now,” Tuchel said. “Nevertheless, we shouldn’t think about where our limit might lie. At the moment our performances regularly show that we have real competitors in our team.”
Dortmund’s revival and unbeaten Wolfsburg’s solid start already indicate Bayern could have a real fight on their hands as they attempt a record fourth successive title.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola rested some first-choice players in the 3-0 win at Darmstadt Saturday and should be at full strength for the visit of Wolfsburg, who are third on 11 points and without a goal conceded in their the last four games.
Striker Robert Lewandowski, who missed the trip to Darmstadt with an ankle injury, resumed training Sunday.
As the first home Oktoberfest match this year, Bayern will not want Wolfsburg putting a damper on the annual celebrations, whose final day on October 4 also coincides with the visit of Dortmund to the Allianz Arena.
Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking is confident his side is now equipped to win in Munich - and strike perhaps a psychological blow before cup holders Wolfsburg again face Bayern at home in the second round of the German Cup on October 27.
Since a 2-1 defeat in the opening game of last season in Munich, Wolfsburg have had the edge over Guardiola’s side - winning 4-1 at home in January and beating Bayern on penalties in the Super Cup at the beginning of last month.
“Since our win in January and recently in the Super Cup Bayern know that if we have a good day we can take points off them,” Hecking told Kicker magazine.
“It has given us the feeling that we are not without our chances - and Munich the knowledge that they will have to be at their very best against us.”
Whether Hecking starts with Bas Dost after publicly criticising the Dutch striker’s attitude Saturday remains to be seen.
Dost came off the subs’ bench to score both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Hertha Berlin but was lambasted by Hecking for his poor attitude in training after being substituted at half-time in Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win against CSKA Moscow.
Hecking, Dost and sports director Klaus Allofs had clear-the-air talks on Sunday, with the coach then quoted as saying: “Perhaps it was a mistake to make this thing public.”
At the other end of the table, Borussia Moenchengladbach were plunged into crisis after the sudden resignation Sunday of Swiss coach Lucien Fave following six straight league defeats - five in the league and one in the Champions League.
Gladbach, who were third last season, now take on visiting Augsburg Wednesday hoping for a first victory to lift themselves off the bottom, while VfB Stuttgart are at Hanover in a meeting of two teams also in trouble.
Alexander Zorniger’s Stuttgart match Gladbach’s record of five straight defeats, while Michael Frontzek’s Hanover are hardly much better off with just one point.
In matches Tuesday, promoted Ingolstadt - who have started the season with three successive away wins - greet SV Hamburg at home, while Darmstadt face visiting Werder Bremen, and Hertha entertain Cologne.
Wednesday’s fixtures are completed by fourth-placed Schalke - level on 10 points with Ingolstadt and Cologne - hosting Eintracht Frankfurt, while Leverkusen greet Mainz.
