BL, MD17: Hertha Berlin 0 - 0 FC Bayern München

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Bundesliga 2007/08, Matchday 17
Hertha BSC Berlin v FC Bayern München

Stadium: Olympiastadion, Berlin
Kick-off: Saturday, December 15th, 15.30h

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Following a rest period of two days with no scheduled training, Bayern entered the build-up to Saturday’s Bundesliga trip to face Hertha BSC on Tuesday. A total of 21 players reported to the Säbener Straße practice ground where Ottmar Hitzfeld supervised two training sessions on the day.

Willy Sagnol and Luca Toni were unable to train with injury. The Frenchman reported for the workout as normal, but broke down with back pain during the warm-up and was forced to abandon the session. Sagnol collected a painful knock last Saturday during a 20-minute substitute appearance against MSV Duisburg.

Determined to maintain top spot

Toni, who gave way to Lukas Podolski after 76 minutes of the goalless draw with MSV, is struggling with a stiff hamstring. The Italian reported to the Säbener Strasse medical unit for intensive treatment on Monday, but was only able to manage a light jog the following day.

Neither Sagnol nor Toni has definitely been ruled out of Saturday’s final fixture before the mid-season break. At the present time, the definite non-starters are Hamit Altintop and Marcell Jansen (both recovering from surgery), Lucio (final match of a four-game ban) and Oliver Kahn, suspended by the club for disciplinary reasons. Bayern require a point from the match in Berlin to seal the unofficial title of “winter champions” awarded to the team leading the standings at the halfway mark.

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Kahn suspended, Altintop and Jansen injured and definately out, Lucio suspended, Toni and Sagnol doubtful.

With this considered, our line up should be like this:

Rensing - Lell, van Buyten, Demichelis, Lahm - Sosa (Schweini), van Bommel, Zé Roberto, Ribéry - Podolski (Toni), Klose

Also available are: Ottl, Kroos, Schlaudraff.

Toni could be eventually back in time for the match. The same with Sagnol, however even fit, I can't see Hitzfeld handing him a starting place.

Considering all those again, who will captain the team?

First choice captain Kahn is suspended, vice-captain Lucio is suspended, and the other vice-captain Willy Sagnol is doubtful and will most likely not start.

The armband will most likely be handed to Mark van Bommel or Phillipp Lahm.

[Vargas_4]

I think it will go to Mark van Bommel.

I hope Podolski starts and gives a good performance.

Plus, Sosa & Schlaudraff should get more chances.

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Luca Toni trotted out onto the training ground on Wednesday, only to find a ball barring his way. What else could the Italian do, but aim a mighty hoof at the pill and blast it away into the far distance? Only then did he rejoin fitness coach Thomas Wilhelmi for a personalised workout. Unfortunately, that single kick was Luca’s only contact with the ball that day.

The Italian spent both the morning and afternoon training sessions putting in laps of the practice ground alongside Wilhelmi. “Luca’s struggling with a tight hamstring and couldn’t do more than jog. He’ll have intensive treatment,“ Ottmar Hitzfeld reported. The Bayern coach could not assess Toni’s chances of featuring in Saturday’s Bundesliga trip to Hertha Berlin.

Match practice for Rensing

Willy Sagnol, who was forced to break off the session early for the second day in a row, also looks an increasing doubt for Saturday. “He took a heavy blow on his back, and it’s still hurting him. He’s been in the weights room and on the exercise bike,“ Hitzfeld commented.

The definite non-starters are Hamit Altintop, Marcell Jansen (both recovering from surgery), Lucio (final match of a four-game suspension) and Oliver Kahn, suspended by the club for disciplinary reasons and set to be replaced by Michael Rensing. “Michael’s always done well for us. It’s another good opportunity for him to gain match practice and show us what he can do,“ Hitzfeld observed.

[toni87]

very important game for bayern!

[Oliver_Kahn]

A must win match, we just have to beat Hertha and claim the title of "Winter Champions"

Hitzfeld will probably start the same line-up that played against Duisburg, but I'm hoping for a surprise. Imagining that everyone is fit:

....................Rensing ()
Sagnol....V.Buyten...Demichelis....Lahm
........van Bommel.....ze Roberto
...Ribery................................Podolski
...................Toni.....Klose


Toni and Klose need to step up, they haven't scored for quite a few time.
Podolski needs to start, he is motivated and he is fit
Lell needs to go to the bench, he is too dodgy and Gilberto will humiliate him like Magnin did

[BlackNess]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

A must win match, we just have to beat Hertha and claim the title of "Winter Champions"

Hitzfeld will probably start the same line-up that played against Duisburg, but I'm hoping for a surprise. Imagining that everyone is fit:

....................Rensing ()
Sagnol....V.Buyten...Demichelis....Lahm
........van Bommel.....ze Roberto
...Ribery................................Podolski
...................Toni.....Klose


Toni and Klose need to step up, they haven't scored for quite a few time.
Podolski needs to start, he is motivated and he is fit
Lell needs to go to the bench, he is too dodgy and Gilberto will humiliate him like Magnin did

....................Rensing ()
Sagnol....V.Buyten...Demichelis....Lahm
........van Bommel.....ze Roberto
...Ribery................................Podolski
...................Toni.....Klose

our best starting XI under the current circumstances .

i hope Rensing will not fuck up again, i don't know why the other guys are so happy about him starting

[Eric]

actually luca toni will be out. just came in the press. the same goes for sagnol
so poldi and lell in for them

[Aleksandar]

i see how Bayern win this match with 2 goal difference

[quote=BlackNess]....................Rensing ()
Lell....V.Buyten...Lucio....Lahm
........van Bommel.....ze Roberto
...Ribery................................Scweni
..................Podolski.....Klose

[Eric]

Lucio is still banned for this game with his red card so the likeliest formation will be

....................Rensing ........
Lell....V.Buyten...Demichelis....Lahm
........van Bommel.....ze Roberto
...Ribery................................Schweini
.................Poldi.....Klose.........

Maybe sosa or even kroos for schweini depending who of those 3 made the best impression in training this week

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Oliver Kahn and Luca Toni will be missing, but Bayern will complete the first half of the Bundesliga programme away to Hertha BSC Berlin on Saturday determined to retain top spot and claim the so-called winter championship. “The time has come to say: we’re Bayern Munich football club - and that’s what we’ll do tomorrow,” Mark van Bommel declared on the eve of the fixture.

The Dutch ace will stand in as captain for the suspended Kahn at the Berlin Olympic stadium. “I’m proud I’ve been asked to wear the armband,” Van Bommel observed, delighted at the faith shown in him by coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, but simultaneously insisting the captaincy was not a priority. “What matters is winning and taking the winter championship. The name of the captain isn’t that important.“

Looking for maximum points

The title of winter champions, unofficially but ubiquitously bestowed on the side leading the league at the halfway point in the campaign, has long been Bayern’s declared target. A draw in Berlin would realistically secure that goal. Werder Bremen, two points off the leaders and at home to Leverkusen on Saturday, could theoretically overtake if Munich only draw, but the northerners’ goal difference is a full eight goals inferior to Bayern’s. In any case, the Bavarians are looking for more than a single point. “It wouldn’t be enough,” Van Bommel insisted, “we want all three points.“

Victory would see Bayern spend the mid-season break a minimum of two points clear in top spot, occupied by the men in Red since opening day. “And I want us to stay top until the end,” Van Bommel commented, hoping for a ‘lights-to-flag’ march on the title. Winning the winter championship has been a good omen in the past. Bayern have been top at Christmas 15 times in their history, going on to win the league on 13 occasions.

Fraught with danger

However, the points are not in the bag yet. “It’s always hard work in Berlin,” Philipp Lahm warned. Hertha have slumped to twelfth in the standings after three defeats in a row, and were knocked out of the German Cup by Bayern’s next opponents Wuppertaler SV, “but every team sees Bayern as a chance to turn things around. That makes it a very dangerous match,” Lahm continued.

Van Bommel felt Hertha would be in the mood to attack after failing to beat the Reds in the last eleven meetings between the clubs. “Berlin are at home and won’t want to let their supporters down, so they won’t just drop deep and defend,” the Dutchman argued. Added Lahm: “If we concentrate and show the necessary desire, we’ll definitely win the match.“

Toni and Sagnol sidelined

The turmoil surrounding Kahn’s midweek suspension could even work in Bayern’s favour, Van Bommel felt. “I think it’ll have a positive effect,” he suggested. Michael Rensing, yet to lose a top flight match with Bayern, deputises for Kahn in Berlin. “It’s another chance for him to show what he’s made of,” Hitzfeld observed.

The Bayern line-up will reflect other enforced changes too. Apart from long-term casualties Hamit Altintop and Marcell Jansen, and the suspended Lucio, both Luca Toni (hamstring) and Willy Sagnol (back pain) have pulled out of the squad.

League Cup tactics

The impression from final training was that Hitzfeld is planning a tactical switch, with Miroslav Klose as a lone striker ahead of an attacking midfield trio comprising Schweinsteiger, Ribéry and Podolski, the formation which comfortably won Bayern the pre-season League Cup. “Our target is the winter championship, because then we’d go into the mid-season break with everybody happy,” concluded Lahm, “we’re the leaders, and our fate is in our own hands.“

Probable line-ups:

Hertha BSC Berlin: Drobny - Friedrich, von Bergen, Simunic, Fathi - Mineiro, Dardai - Lustenberger, Grahn, Gilberto - Pantelic

Bayern Munich: Rensing - Lell, Van Buyten, Demichelis, Lahm - Zé Roberto, Van Bommel - Schweinsteiger, Ribéry, Podolski - Klose
Also in matchday squad: Dreher, Hummels, Ottl, Sosa, Kroos, Schlaudraff

Referee: Dr Markus Merk (Otterbach)

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Three changes, a very much refreshed line-up.

After all the drama at the training ground, after all the 'bad atmosphere',
I think it's the perfect time for a good comeback.

[Podolski]

can't wait to see poldi play

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The match will be broadcasted live in those TV channels:

ATV Austria
Bundesliga 5
C+ Eventos
C+ Sport (France)
DigitAlb SuperSport 4
NTV Turkey
Premiere HD
Premiere Sport Portal
Sky Calcio 1
Sky Sport Italia 16:9
Sky Sport Italia HD
Sport 5+ LIVE
SportKlub (Hungary)
SportKlub (Serbia)
SuperSport 4 [Hellas]