‘Greedy’ Bayern eager to win Bundesliga title

BERLIN - Agence France-Presse

Bayern Munich has destroyed Hamburg 9-2 in last week’s Bundesliga game. The Bavarians are one win away from their 23rd German title. AFP photo

Bayern Munich is hungry to wrap up the Bundesliga title this weekend as victory at Eintracht Frankfurt on April 6 would see the team confirmed German Champions for the 23rd time.

If it beats Frankfurt, Bayern will break its own record for the earliest confirmed title win with six games left and is just nine short of Dortmund’s record of 81, set last May, for the most points in a campaign. 
With a 20-point lead at the top of the table from rivals Dortmund, a win at Frankfurt would make it impossible for Borussia to deny Munich the title having dominated the league from the start by winning of their first eight games.

Having routed Hamburg 9-2 at Munich’s Allianz Arena last week, Bayern was only denied the league title by Dortmund’s win in Stuttgart, but this weekend Munich has its destiny in its own hands.
“This time we are not dependent on anyone to be German champions,” said director of sport Matthias Sammer, with Bayern chasing their first title since May 2010.

“If it happens, no one should be unhappy about it, just feel the joy after all the hard work which has been put in. We’ll probably have to celebrate a bit differently, rather than partying until morning, because Juventus wait for us on Wednesday.”

With Bayern holding a 2-0 first-leg lead for next week’s first leg in Munich, it travels to Turin for the return leg against Juventus on April 10 in the Champions League and Sammer said the side is hungry for silverware.

“You can see the greed of this team for what they have already achieved, they want more,” said Sammer. “It requires a high-level of responsibility, especially from the captain Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

“That means we will have to stay disciplined after the Frankfurt match and on our return to Munich, but that’s what we expect and what will happen.” 

With some players sure to be rested in Frankfurt ahead of the Turin trip, midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri said those selected will do the job.

“We’re determined to win the league there,” said the Swiss. “It would give us a boost for the game in Turin.”