Werner, Leipzig eager for Bayern revenge

TimoWerner will be looking for redemption when RB Leipzig travel to BayernMunich in the Bundesliga today. The 21-year-old striker missed thedecisive penalty in the shootout as Bayern knocked Leipzig out of theGerman Cup on Wednesday.Werner is expected to return to the startingeleven today, having started on the bench in midweek. He and his teamwill be out for immediate revenge in the Allianz Arena. Third in thetable and just a point behind Bayern, victory would also see Leipzigedge ahead of their rivals in the Bundesliga title race.Both sidescurrently sit behind league leaders Borussia Dortmund, who hope toreturn to winning ways when they host Hanover 96.  Emotions are sure torun high when RB Leipzig head to Munich, after tensions boiled overduring Wednesday’s cup clash. Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnicksquabbled with Bayern players at half-time, while coach RalphHasenhuettl accused the referee of “double standards”.The teamplayed 65 of the 120 minutes with ten men on Wednesday, after NabyKeita’s red card, and Hasenhuettl is expected to rotate his exhaustedsquad. Werner, Lukas Klostermann and Diego Demme should all return tothe starting line-up. “It will be a very difficult game (on Saturday),”said Leipzig forward Marcel Sabitzer. “We will need to push ourselves to the limit. The only good thing is that Bayern have also had to play 120 minutes.”BorussiaDortmund head to Hanover in good spirits today, having picked up theirfirst win in four games with a midweek victory over Magdeburg. Dortmundstill top the Bundesliga, but their five-point lead has evaporated inrecent weeks, following defeat by RB Leipzig and a 2-2 draw at EintrachtFrankfurt.Bosz had been accused of reckless tactics after thestring of disappointing results, but vowed this week that he would notchange his philosophy. “The system was working at the beginning of theseason,” Bosz protested. “It was fun to watch, and fun for the players.”Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Goetze are expected to return tothe starting team against Hanover.Still bottom of the table andwithout a win this season, Cologne face an in-form Bayer Leverkusen sidein the Rhine Derby today. After the shock departure of sportingdirector Joerg Schmadtke last week, victory in the cup against HerthaBerlin has given Cologne hope ahead of the derby. Therelegation-threatened club have beaten their local rivals just oncesince 2011, and they should expect no mercy from Leverkusen this timearound.”It sounds tough, but if Cologne are already on the ground, weshould keep kicking them,” said Leverkusen striker Julian Brandt.ThorganHazard’s winner fired Borussia Moenchengladbach into the next round ofthe German Cup on Tuesday, and the Belgian has promised more of the sameagainst Hoffenheim this weekend. “This was just the beginning,” saidHazard. “I’ve struggled to take my chances lately, so it was aliberation to score.”Victory would see Gladbach overtake Hoffenheim,who are currently in fourth, but have won just one of their last fivecompetitive games.Fellow top four contenders Schalke host Wolfsburg,with their hopes pinned on rising midfield star Leon Goretzka. The22-year-old has scored Schalke’s opener in each of the last three games,and is looking ever more likely to secure a place in Germany’s WorldCup squad next summer. Goretzka missed out on Schalke’s cup win overWiesbaden in midweek due to muscular problems, but is expected to returnto action against Wolfsburg.Fixtures (all times 1330 GMT unless stated)Today:Bayer Leverkusen v Cologne, Hanover 96 v Borussia Dortmund, HerthaBerlin v Hamburg, Hoffenheim v Borussia Moenchengladbach, Schalke 04 vWolfsburg, Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (1630)Tomorrow: Werder Bremen v Augsburg (1530), Stuttgart v Freiburg (1800)