By Barry Whelan, dpa
Bayern Munich host on-form Cologne in one of the highlights of the Bundesliga weekend, while Borussia Dortmund take on Bayer Leverkusen, and Hamburg – with a new coach – and Schalke seek first wins.
Berlin (dpa) – After tasting defeat for the first time this season, Bayern Munich hope to continue their perfect league record when they take on third-placed Cologne in the German football Bundesliga on Saturday.
Bayern were unable to make much headway in a 1-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, a first defeat under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Cologne could reduce the gap at the top of the Bundesliga to one point with a win in the Allianz Arena, but will have to reverse a series of six successive defeats against the German champions.
«We know that it won’t be an easy match,» Cologne’s Germany defender Jonas Hector said.
«Nonetheless, we are excited because of how things have been developing for us in these past few matches.»
Coach Peter Stoeger’s team is undefeated in 10 consecutive Bundesliga matches going back to the previous season, and Hector says the team travel to Munich with their «chests out.»
Bayern have won all five of their league games, with 15 goals scored and only one conceded, and it is unlikely confidence will be greatly affected by the defeat to Atletico.
«We controlled the game, but taken altogether we lacked aggression and determination in one-on-ones,» Ancelotti said.
«We lost possession too often and were too slow. You have to be quicker and make use of your chances against Atletico. It wasn’t a good display. However, it was only one game. It’s going to be better next time.»
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund meanwhile come off a 2-2 Champions League draw against Real Madrid when they travel to fellow Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen, who were pegged 1-1 by a stoppage-time goal against Monaco.
Since a 1-0 defeat to RB Leipzig, Dortmund have been in the goals with 14 in three league matches, while the draw against Real followed a 6-0 win at Legia Warsaw.
At the other end of the table SV Hamburg seek a first win, with coach Markus Gisdol making his debut following the sacking of Bruno Labbadia, in a trip to sixth-placed Hertha Berlin.
«Nobody should expect any miracles to happen,» Gisdol said, adding that every player «starts under me with a clean slate.»
Schalke, in Europa League action Thursday evening against Salzburg, are desperate for points after five defeats in five games but have a tough task, with fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach the visitors on Sunday.
The weekend programme begins with unbeaten RB Leipzig greeting Augsburg on Friday evening. Saturday’s remaining games are Ingolstadt v Hoffenheim, Darmstadt v Werder Bremen and Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt, while Wolfsburg welcome Mainz in Sunday’s other fixture.
