Bayern Munich (pic) central defender Mats Hummels says the club’s powerful position going into their Bundesliga home tie with Hamburg this weekend is a good measure of coach Carlo Ancelotti’s ambitions for the season.
 After Robert Lewandowski last-gasp equaliser saved their 2017 unbeaten record in Berlin last weekend, Bayern are five points clear at the top, and 5-1 up against Arsenal in the Champions League last 16.
 Unbeaten in 16 games against today’s visitors Hamburg, Hummels, who joined from Dortmund last summer, says their position of strength is a natural state of affairs. “We’re where we want to be, five points clear, that’s in keeping with our ambitions, we want to win it all,” he said.
 The Bayern forward line, who hit eight goals past Hamburg in a 2015 Bundesliga game, will look over their shoulders as former France international forward Franck Ribery resumed training after a seven weeks lay off. But Ancelotti will not rush Ribery back as he wants him and Arjen Robben fit for the latter part of the season.
 Hamburg were once considered Bayern’s bogey team and have gone four games unbeaten going into today’s clash.
 Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund travel to unpredictable Freiburg without midfielders Andre Schuerrle and Mario Goetze, who combined to score the World Cup winner over Argentina out in Brazil.
 Third-placed Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel has called for consistency and can usually count on striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who was off the score sheet last week in the 3-0 hammering of Wolfsburg.
 Two teams that might have been expected to challenge Bayern this season Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen, clash Friday in record setting form.
 Poor form that is, as both clubs have set their own record low points tally for this stage of the season Wolfsburg on 22 and Bremen 19. Schalke are on a run in both Europe, after a midweek win over PAOK in the Europa League and in the Bundesliga and have won their last five games against Hoffenheim, who they play tomorrow.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Playing Today: Bayern Munich v Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Mainz, Darmstadt v Augsburg, Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig v Cologne (1430), Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfort (1730)
Playing Tomorrow: Ingolstadt v Borussia Monchengladbach (1430), Schalke 04 v Hoffenheim (1630)
(Qatar is three hours ahead of GMT)