Bayern Face Leaders
October 13, 2006
German champions Bayern Munich will have the unfamiliar feeling of facing the league leaders on Saturday with surprise package Hertha Berlin aiming to win in Munich for the first time in 29 years.
Last season Bayern had a maximum 18 points from their first six matches but this campaign has not been as smooth with two defeats -- they only lost three games in the whole of last season -- seeing them fall to fourth.
"We are under pressure at the moment and it is important that we win for morale and self-confidence," goalkeeper Oliver Kahn told sport channel DSF. "We cannot underestimate Hertha as they have the potential to be up at the top for a long time."
Unbeaten Hertha lead the table on goal difference with four other teams, including Bayern, tied on ten points.
Pressure on Bayern to perform
Few expect the capital side, a disappointing sixth last season, to stay at the summit and general manager Dieter Hoeness says the pressure will be on Bayern come Saturday. "Bayern have it all to lose and we can only win," he said.
The other big game of the weekend sees fifth-placed Schalke 04, also on ten points, travel to out-of-form SV Hamburg.
Hamburg, third last season, are the only team yet to win in the league this season and lie third from bottom in the table.
Hamburg on the edge of greatness or disaster?
"During the difficult times teams either grow and become a great team or fall apart," said Hamburg's Argentine international Juan Pablo Sorin.
Hamburg boss Thomas Doll will hope his troops become a great team and start with a much-needed three points against Schalke.
Schalke stole the limelight this week after agreeing a bumper sponsorship deal, worth a reported 125 million euros, with Russian energy giant Gazprom and Mirko Slomka hopes to show that he is the right man to spend the cash.
Despite steering Schalke 04 to fifth in the table, Slomka is under pressure after the club crashed out of the UEFA Cup to French side Nancy.
Opportunists looking to gain ground
With Bayern, Hertha and Schalke all having tough hurdles to overcome, Werder Bremen and FC Nuremberg will have their eye on top spot.
Third-placed Bremen travel to bottom side VfL Bochum on Saturday while Nuremberg, riding high in second, host Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.
The league is incredibly tight after six games and as many as 11 teams can nudge Hertha off the summit with VfB Stuttgart, down in 12th, just two points behind the leading quintet.