Karlsruher – Bayern Munich
The international break for the World Cup qualifiers arrived just at the right time for Bayern Munich. It took the attention (most of it negative) off of the Bavarians but that spotlight will however return this weekend with their trip to Karlsruher. It is quite simple- Bayern need a win this weekend, no ifs, no buts.
With just nine points from their seven games thus far the Bavarians sit in 11th place and are a full seven points behind leaders Hamburg. Their worst start to a league campaign in over thirty years has heaped an enormous amount of early pressure on Jürgen Klinsmann, and he and his players know the importance of Saturday’s clash at the Wildparkstadion.
Midfielder Zé Roberto, who has actually been one of Bayern’s better performers this season explained his take on the match this weekend. “We’re aware of the importance of the game. We have to play well and come home with three points” the Brazilian commented.
“Hamburg are seven points ahead of us. The season starts from scratch as of the Karlsruhe match” he added.
"We've put ourselves under pressure, needlessly" Klinsmann said in Thursday's edition of Kicker magazine. "Now, we have to step it up again.
"There is no doubt we are not satisfied with our position in the Bundesliga," Klinsmann said. "We want to be somewhere very differently. Bayern have a rather more impressive record in the Champions League and that is a true representation of the clubs ability according to Klinsmann.
"In the Champions League, the position is very good. We need consistency" he said. "The team is on a good way to grow together."
The disgruntled Bayern fans may not be of the same opinion having witnessed their side not win in their last three outings. The team was jeered off the field after wasting a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with VfL Bochum in Bayern's last home game, and for the first time there were chants of "Klinsmann out."
"I know what our mid-term and long-term goals are, and I can see that we are already implementing some of what we are trying to do" the Bayern trainer said. "When you have two, three setbacks, there is turbulence at a club like Bayern Munich. Maybe we are a little bit to sure of ourselves in the Bundesliga."
One of the problems, Klinsmann said, was that Franck Ribery - "our key player" - is only now coming back from an ankle injury and still has not reached last season's level.
Another factor is that Bayern's many internationals are taking a long time to recover form from the European Championship, plus the players are lacking concentration in some games.
Head To Head Record in Karlsruher:
23/09/07 Karlsruher 1 Bayern Munich 4
18/10/97 Karlsruher 1 Bayern Munich 1
23/03/97 Karlsruher 0 Bayern Munich 2
19/08/95 Karlsruher 2 Bayern Munich 6
19/11/94 Karlsruher 2 Bayern Munich 2
30/04/94 Karlsruher 1 Bayern Munich 1
Karlsruher
Trainer Edmund Becker has concerns over midfielder Antonia da Silva after the Brazilian received an ankle injury in KSC’s midweek friendly win. The former Stuttgart man had to be taken off after just 16 minutes and is a doubt for the visit of Bayern.
Goalkeeper Markus Miller is set to return though after his injury lay-off, while Andreas Görlitz is ready to end his five month injury nightmare, but will have to settle with a place on the bench. Joshua Kennedy only returned from international duty with Australia on Friday, but he could still make the Bayern game.
Probable Starting XI: Miller, Celozzi, Sebastian, Franz, Eichner, Mutzel, Porcello, Freis, da Silva, Iashvili, Kennedy
Bayern Munich
Mark van Bommel is set to return to the starting line-up with Klinsmann likely to revert to the formation that served Bayern so well with Schweinsteiger and Ribéry given license to roam forward and provide the ammunition for Toni and Klose.
Massimo Oddo looks set to occupy the right back role with Lukas Podolski having to return to the bench following two games as a starter for Germany.
Despite going off injured t half time in Germany’s midweek win over Wales, Miroslav Klose is set to start alongside Luca Toni.
Probable Starting XI: Rensing, Oddo, Lucio, Demichelis, Lahm, van Bommel, Zé Roberto, Schweinsteiger, Ribéry, Toni, Klose
My bet is Bayern Munich to win 10/10
With just nine points from their seven games thus far the Bavarians sit in 11th place and are a full seven points behind leaders Hamburg. Their worst start to a league campaign in over thirty years has heaped an enormous amount of early pressure on Jürgen Klinsmann, and he and his players know the importance of Saturday’s clash at the Wildparkstadion.
Midfielder Zé Roberto, who has actually been one of Bayern’s better performers this season explained his take on the match this weekend. “We’re aware of the importance of the game. We have to play well and come home with three points” the Brazilian commented.
“Hamburg are seven points ahead of us. The season starts from scratch as of the Karlsruhe match” he added.
"We've put ourselves under pressure, needlessly" Klinsmann said in Thursday's edition of Kicker magazine. "Now, we have to step it up again.
"There is no doubt we are not satisfied with our position in the Bundesliga," Klinsmann said. "We want to be somewhere very differently. Bayern have a rather more impressive record in the Champions League and that is a true representation of the clubs ability according to Klinsmann.
"In the Champions League, the position is very good. We need consistency" he said. "The team is on a good way to grow together."
The disgruntled Bayern fans may not be of the same opinion having witnessed their side not win in their last three outings. The team was jeered off the field after wasting a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with VfL Bochum in Bayern's last home game, and for the first time there were chants of "Klinsmann out."
"I know what our mid-term and long-term goals are, and I can see that we are already implementing some of what we are trying to do" the Bayern trainer said. "When you have two, three setbacks, there is turbulence at a club like Bayern Munich. Maybe we are a little bit to sure of ourselves in the Bundesliga."
One of the problems, Klinsmann said, was that Franck Ribery - "our key player" - is only now coming back from an ankle injury and still has not reached last season's level.
Another factor is that Bayern's many internationals are taking a long time to recover form from the European Championship, plus the players are lacking concentration in some games.
Head To Head Record in Karlsruher:
23/09/07 Karlsruher 1 Bayern Munich 4
18/10/97 Karlsruher 1 Bayern Munich 1
23/03/97 Karlsruher 0 Bayern Munich 2
19/08/95 Karlsruher 2 Bayern Munich 6
19/11/94 Karlsruher 2 Bayern Munich 2
30/04/94 Karlsruher 1 Bayern Munich 1
Karlsruher
Trainer Edmund Becker has concerns over midfielder Antonia da Silva after the Brazilian received an ankle injury in KSC’s midweek friendly win. The former Stuttgart man had to be taken off after just 16 minutes and is a doubt for the visit of Bayern.
Goalkeeper Markus Miller is set to return though after his injury lay-off, while Andreas Görlitz is ready to end his five month injury nightmare, but will have to settle with a place on the bench. Joshua Kennedy only returned from international duty with Australia on Friday, but he could still make the Bayern game.
Probable Starting XI: Miller, Celozzi, Sebastian, Franz, Eichner, Mutzel, Porcello, Freis, da Silva, Iashvili, Kennedy
Bayern Munich
Mark van Bommel is set to return to the starting line-up with Klinsmann likely to revert to the formation that served Bayern so well with Schweinsteiger and Ribéry given license to roam forward and provide the ammunition for Toni and Klose.
Massimo Oddo looks set to occupy the right back role with Lukas Podolski having to return to the bench following two games as a starter for Germany.
Despite going off injured t half time in Germany’s midweek win over Wales, Miroslav Klose is set to start alongside Luca Toni.
Probable Starting XI: Rensing, Oddo, Lucio, Demichelis, Lahm, van Bommel, Zé Roberto, Schweinsteiger, Ribéry, Toni, Klose
My bet is Bayern Munich to win 10/10
posted by Midnight Sun @ 23:31,
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