Bayern face Hamburg as Bundesliga hots up

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BERLIN, Feb 26, 2010 (AFP) - Bayern Munich face a tough test to keep up with Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the German Bundesliga this weekend as they take on fourth-placed Hamburg at home in what increasingly looks a two-horse race.

In another top of the table clash, third-placed Schalke host Borussia Dortmund, in fifth, while Stuttgart, fresh from a hard-fought Champions League 1-1 draw with the stars of Barcelona midweek, battle with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern Munich caught up Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table a month ago, and since then, the two rivals have been neck-and-neck.

Going into this weekend's games, Leverkusen have the slimmest of advantages -- one goal ahead on goal difference.

"Leverkusen are strong, but we're stronger," Bayern's German striker Thomas Mueller said.

Last Saturday, Bayern looked to have slipped up after managing just a draw away at local rivals Nuremberg, who are last-but-one in the table, dashing hopes of what would have been a record-equalling string of 10 league victories.

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said they would use the pain of the dropped points to spur them on against Hamburg.

"We're still angry about the draw in Nuremberg. It's a game we should have won," he said.

But Bayern got a reprieve a day later when Leverkusen suffered the same fate in a 2-2 thriller away against Werder Bremen which saw the hosts snatch a draw with an injury-time header from German international striker Per Mertesacker.

This allowed dogged Leverkusen under veteran coach Jupp Heynckes to equal his own Bundesliga record of 23 straight games unbeaten -- first achieved when he was in charge of Bayern.

This weekend, it is the Bavarians with the tougher-looking game, with Hamburg unbeaten in a month and boosted by their new star signing, former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

But the Dutchman could yet be unavailable with a thigh injury that ruled him out of this week's Europa League trip to his old club PSV Eindhoven and last Saturday's goalless home draw against Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, Bayern could welcome back French midfielder Franck Ribery, who missed last Saturday's game after bruising his foot in Bayern's Champions League 2-1 win over Fiorentina on February 17.

Ribery missed training on Monday, but was just being rested, along with, among others, former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, coach Louis van Gaal explained.

Leverkusen have the chance to set a new Bundesliga record of 24 games unbeaten as they host struggling Cologne, 14th in the table with four straight defeats behind them, most recently a 5-1 demolition by Stuttgart at home.

Cologne cannot be written off, however, with Germany striker Lucas Podolski hungry to end his drought of one goal in 18 games this season and book himself a place for the World Cup in South Africa in June and July.

At the other end of the table, Hertha Berlin take on Hoffenheim, two teams that had stellar seasons last year but whose stars have fallen this time around.

Hapless Hertha have managed just 15 points this season, leaving them in last place, while Hoffenheim are 10th, with just one win in the last 10 games.

Fixtures

Friday (1930GMT)

Schalke v Borussia Dortmund

Saturday (1430GMT unless otherwise stated)

Herta Berlin v Hoffenheim, Mainz v Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart v Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia M'gladbach v Freiburg, Bochum v Nuremberg, Bayer Leverkusen v Cologne (1730 GMT)

Sunday

Hanover v Wolfsburg (1430GMT), Bayern Munich v Hamburg (1630GMT)