BayernForum.com

26.02.2007

Ottmar Hitzfeld set alarm bells ringing with a dramatic summary of Bayern's Bundesliga predicament just a week ago. "We're in it up to our necks," the coach declared following a 1-0 defeat away to Alemannia Aachen. That result left the champions five points off third spot and a Champions League qualifying finish, seven adrift of second place, and a whopping 12 behind leaders Schalke. To compound the situation, Nuremberg and Berlin were breathing down Bayern's necks, so that even a Uefa Cup place could have been in danger.

Just one round of matches later, and the situation has taken on a far more promising outlook. Bayern looked an entirely more menacing proposition in beating Wolfsburg 2-1, but the routine victory had an even greater significance for the standings, as Munich were the only team in the top six to collect maximum points.

<b>Just three points off third</b>

A highly satisfactory weekend began on Friday evening when second-placed VfB Stuttgart were held to a goalless draw at home by Hertha Berlin. The following day, Nuremberg lost for the first time in 11 matches with a 2-1 reverse in Mainz, before the crowning glory arrived on on Sunday: Schalke fell by the only goal of the game at home to Leverkusen, the leaders' first defeat in 13 matches, while third-placed Bremen conceded a stoppage time goal in a 2-2 draw with bottom club Monchengladbach.

From a Munich point of view, the table has taken on a far more promising perspective. Nuremberg and Berlin now lie four and six points behind respectively, with Bayern closing the gap on Bremen to three points. Second-placed Stuttgart have reappeared on the Reds' radar with the arrears now down to five points, but despite the surprise result in Gelsenkirchen, Schalke remain a daunting nine clear of the champions.

<b>Series of showdowns</b>

Bayern have been provided with a launching pad, but the situation could alter for the worse unless the men in red can deliver the goods. "We need a winning run in the league, and to get through against Madrid. Anything's possible after that," Mark van Bommel argued on Saturday. "Provided we keep it up, there's plenty of hope for the near future," Hitzfeld echoed.

The various permutations should become clearer over the next month or so. Bremen visit the Allianz Arena in two weeks' time, before Schalke come to Munich another two weeks after that. Bayern then travel to Stuttgart in mid-April, so the champions could still take points off all three of the leading group. And this coming weekend, the Bavarians can effectively kill off the challenge from Berlin with a win in the capital.

<b>Battle to the end</b>

Hitzfeld called on his men to replicate their gritty attitude from Madrid: "We must believe in ourselves right to the end." There are still 33 points to play for in the league, so a number of outcomes lie within the realms of possibility - including the ending wherby the side who were in it up to their necks a week ago sweep the competition aside on a wave of success.


<b>Title contenders' next four fixtures:</b>



<table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2"><tr><td class="f00000012px"><b>Bayern</b></td><td class="f00000012px"><b>Schalke</b></td><td class="f00000012px"><b>Stuttgart</b></td><td class="f00000012px"><b>Bremen</b></td></tr><tr><td class="f00000012px">Berlin (A)</td><td class="f00000012px">Hamburg (H)</td><td class="f00000012px">Leverkusen (A)</td><td class="f00000012px">Bochum (H)</td></tr><tr><td class="f00000012px">Bremen (H)</td><td class="f00000012px">Hanover (A)</td><td class="f00000012px">Wolfsburg (H)</td><td class="f00000012px">Bayern (A)</td></tr><tr><td class="f00000012px">Frankfurt (A)</td><td class="f00000012px">Stuttgart (H)</td><td class="f00000012px">Schalke (A)</td><td class="f00000012px">Mainz (H)</td></tr><tr><td class="f00000012px">Schalke (H)</td><td class="f00000012px">Bayern (A)</td><td class="f00000012px">Aachen (H)</td><td class="f00000012px">Cottbus (A)</td></tr></table>

out of the 4, Bremen has an easy road ahead.

Nah...Zidan will score 2 goals at least.

fanOfBayern wrote:out of the 4, Bremen has an easy road ahead.

agreed. But Bayern will give them hell at the Allianz Arena, hopefully bouyed by a CL victory over Real Madrid