Munich close to full strength for Bremen clash

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1240 votes: 2

19.10.2006

Coach Felix Magath and his men have returned from Lisbon with good news, as Bayern are likely to pick from the squad which has proved so successful in the last two matches when they travel to Bremen for the top of the table Bundesliga clash on Saturday.

The only question mark hangs over Willy Sagnol, who sat out Thursday morning training with knee pain which had troubled him ahead of the meeting with the Portuguese cracks. However, the player declared himself confident of shaking off the injury by Saturday. "I reckon I'll be able to play," he declared. Boss Magath will now watch closely for any sign of a reaction on Friday.

Makaay in line for recall

Otherwise, all the players who formed part of the 18-strong squad for Wednesday's match took part in the session at the University of Lisbon playing fields. Germany international Phillipp Lahm was also there despite receiving four stitches in the dressing room after the final whistle to close a head wound sustained in the last minute of the game.

Speaking ahead of the flight back to Munich, Magath revealed that striker Roy Makaay is to start in Bremen. The Dutch ace, the Reds' top scorer in the Bundesliga on three goals, made way for the aerial threat posed by Roque Santa Cruz in Portugal, but the roles will be reversed at the weekend.

Baumann back for Bremen

In Bremen, captain Frank Baumann is set to return from injury but Germany international Tim Borowski sat out Thursday training with a knee injury and is set to miss the meeting between first and second. "Tim probably won't make it for the weekend," coach Thomas Schaaf confirmed.

The Bayern camp is brimming with confidence and drive ahead of the highlight match on day eight of the Bundesliga programme. "First against second will definitely be a fabulous game," Mark van Bommel remarked.