by MUTU » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:03 am
France star Franck Ribery is set to make his comeback after injury as Bayern Munich take on Werder Bremen on Saturday in a clash between last season's Bundesliga champions and runners-up. Title-holders Bayern go into a match at the Allianz Arena which coincides with the start of the annual Oktoberfest beer festival and follows a 1-0 win Wednesday at Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League.
Meanwhile Werder, who have been a top-three finisher for four successive seasons since winning the 2003/2004 title, have to shrug off the disappointment of a goalless home draw against Anorthosis Famagusta in the competition on Tuesday.
Midfielder Ribery did not make the trip to Bucharest but could make an appearance at some stage against Bremen in what would be his first match since ankle surgery following Euro 2008.
"I have worked hard to get fit. I don't know whether I will be playing from the start but I am in the squad," Ribery told Munich's tz daily.
There was a question mark, however, over Miroslav Klose against his former club after the Germany striker came off in Bucharest with a thigh injury.
It could provide an opportunity for Lukas Podolski to stake a claim after the striker came off the bench to score Bayern's third goal last Saturday in the 3-0 win at his former club Cologne.
Coach Juergen Klinsmann this week declared all discussion on a possible Podolski move to Cologne as over, saying the striker would have to fight for his place in the Bayern side but was behind Luca Toni and Klose in the pecking order.
"He's at a club which demands a lot of him. And he's still developing, like Bastian Schweinsteiger or Philipp Lahm," Klinsmann said.
"But Lukas will battle through. He'll learn and grow with every day, every month and every year."
Bayern, on eight points, could leapfrog SV Hamburg - on 10 points and playing Sunday - at the top of the league if they beat Bremen, who are midtable on five points.
The match could see a return to his former club for Bremen striker Claudio Pizarro. The Peru international, who has joined Bremen on loan from Chelsea, missed a number of chances in the disappointing draw against Anorthosis.
It was team performance that left sports director Klaus Allofs clearly unhappy and calling for an improvement in Munich.
"We don't have to point out the importance of a match against Bayern to any of the players. Every one of them will motivated," he said.
"The match in the Allianz Arena is the best opportunity to put things straight. So far we have dropped a few points this season, especially in (losing 3-2 in) Gladbach. But we know from the past that you can soon catch up at the beginning of the season."
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