by MUTU on Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:36 pm
BERLIN, April 5 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich showed this week they are credible candidates to win the Champions League but do they have the consistency to challenge for the Bundesliga title?
Last weekend's 2-0 win over Schalke 04 gave them renewed hope but they will need another victory away to Hanover 96 on Saturday (kickoff 1330 GMT) if they are serious about winning the championship for a third year in succession.
Since the turn of the year, Bayern have only won consecutive league games once. Given their inconsistency it is amazing they are in fourth place only six points behind leaders Schalke with seven games left to play.
They go into the Hanover game with renewed confidence after the Schalke win and Tuesday's 2-2 draw at AC Milan that gave them a great chance of reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld can recall goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and midfielder Mark van Bommel, who were suspended in Europe.
The bad news was the injury to Willy Sagnol that means the France defender is likely to miss the rest of the season. Hasan Salihamidzic will probably fill in at right-back on Saturday, with Christian Lell taking his place in midfield.
Soccer is not just about scoring goals - it’s about winning.