Fri Nov 23 21:03:58 2007

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Bayern: Time to make amends for poor results

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Munich, Germany (Sports Network) - Bayern Munich will try to snap a three-game winless streak when Wolfsburg and former boss Felix Magath visit Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Bayern posted consecutive 0-0 ties against Borussia Dortmond and Eintracht and then lost its first match of the season to Stuttgart, 3-1, in its last contest before the international break.

Although Bayern (8-1-4) still leads the Bundesliga, its lead has been trimmed to one point by Werder Bremen and Hamburg.

"Its time to make amends," Bayern Munich manager Omar Hitzfeld said, "we need to restore our reputation after some poor results.

"It's vital we re-establish an upwards trend, and take all three points to bolster our position at the top of the table."

Bayern needs to get Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose back on track this week. They are first and second in the Bundesliga in scoring, but Toni's goal late in the Stuttgart loss is Bayern's only goal in its last three games.

Toni was on target for Italy during the international break, scoring twice and helping his country secure the top spot in Group B in EURO qualifying.

Toni has a league-high nine goals and his resurgence would be a big boost for Bayern. Klose has eight goals.

Against Wolfsburg, it could take more than one goal from the talented duo.

Wolfsburg has at least one goal in every match and is third in the league with 22 goals. Werder Bremen has 30 and Bayern has 28.

"They've scored at least once in every game," Hitzfeld said, "but they're by no means as good a unit at the back."

Wolfsburg has also allowed 23 goals, which is better than only three teams in the league - Arminia Bielefeld, Nurnberg and Energie.

It'll be Magath's job to try and figure out a way to solve Bayern. He was with the club from 2004-07 before being fired in January.

Wolfsburg was only outspent by Bayern in the offseason, giving the new manager plenty of talent, but it hasn't turned into great success yet.

Ashkan Dejagah and Grafite, both newcomers to Wolfsburg (4-5-4), lead the club with four goals apiece.

"Nobody expects us to win or even take a point home with us against Bayern, so in reality, it is something of an easy game for us," Magath said.

"We have played well on our travels so far this season and we must continue to do so on Saturday."

In Friday's lone match, Tamas Hajnal and Sebastian Freis scored in the second half as Karlsruher rallied to beat Hertha Berlin, 2-1, and move within two points of Bayern.

Also on Saturday, Werder Bremen visits Energie with a chance to move into the top spot but will be without Boubacar Sanogo and Carlos Alberto, who were in a fight in practice and have been suspended three days by the club.

In the rest of Saturday's action, Bochum hosts Arminia Bielefeld, Hannover hosts Schalke, Eintracht hosts Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen hosts Duisburg.

On Sunday, third-place Hamburg hosts Rostock and Nurnberg hosts Borussia Dortmund.