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| Post subject: Magath: 'It's time to close ranks and win' |
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10.11.2006
Superstition is a take-it-or-leave-it affair, but even the most determinedly rational Bayern fan would admit the omens are promising this weekend. For example, Leverkusen boss Michael Skibbe has never been on the winning side against Munich. Bayer have lost more times at home to the Bavarians (11) than to any other Bundesliga club. And last season, the Reds cruised to a thumping 5-2 victory at the BayArena. Against this background, asked coach Felix Magath on the eve of Saturday's trip to Bayer Leverkusen (Live in English on FCB.tv Web Radio from 3.15 pm CET), "why shouldn't we go there and do it again?"
Speaking ahead of the meeting with the side lying ninth in the standings, the Bayern boss was understandably keen to exude confidence as he sought to move on from Wednesday's 1-0 home defeat against bottom club Hanover, a performance described by Uli Hoeneß as "thoroughly poor from start to finish" and which Magath conceded "gave us grounds for concern."
Total commitment
The champions have won only one of their last four league fixtures and have lost three and drawn one of their four most recent away games, prompting Magath to issue a rallying call to his men. "We have to be totally committed. I have to see a united team, proud to represent Bayern Munich and play for Bayern Munich, with no ifs or buts. That wasn't necessarily the case against Hanover."
The team sent out with instructions to battle its way to victory in the Rhineland will most likely differ from the midweek line-up. "We could well feature one or two players who weren't involved against Hanover," the Reds boss revealed, although that still might not include Willy Sagnol, as the France star continues to struggle with a knee problem. Hasan Salihamidzic and Christian Lell are vying to provide cover.
Restricted options
Lucio has resumed training after recovering from sprained ankle ligaments but is not yet fit enough to start against his former club, and the lengthy injury list at the Säbener Strasse leaves Magath with few tried and trusted alternatives. Fortunately, Roy Makaay, Claudio Pizarro and Philipp Lahm have all reported fit from a dose of the flu.
Leverkusen will also be below full strength, as coach Skibbe is definitely without Roque Junior (Achilles), Gonzalo Castro (shoulder) and Paul Freier (suspended), with a question-mark over Lucio's fellow Brazil centre-half Juan (facial cut). On the plus side, experienced warhorse Carsten Ramelow is set to return from an ankle problem.
Silencing the critics
With the team captain back on board, and a promising series of results yielding seven points from the last three games, Bayer approach the match with their morale soaring. "We're hoping to keep it up against Bayern," Skibbe declared, knowing his side would leapfrog their Bavarian rivals with a win.
The men from Munich are determined to prevent that happening. "It's time to close ranks and win in Leverkusen," Magath summarised. "We have to take this opportunity to put a poor match behind us, and silence the debate about our form."
Probable line-ups:
Bayer Leverkusen: Butt - Schwegler, Madouni, Haggui (Juan), Babic - Schneider, Ramelow, Rolfes, Barnetta - Barbarez, Voronin
Bayern Munich: Kahn - Lell (Sagnol), van Buyten, Demichelis, Lahm - Salihamidzic, Ottl, van Bommel, Schweinsteiger - Pizarro, Makaay
Also in matchday squad: Rensing, Dos Santos, Karimi, Santa Cruz, Scholl, Saba, Maierhofer
Referee: Dr. Markus Merk (Otterbach)
Bayern's record in the fixture: P27 W11 D 5 L11 F46 A43
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