Mueller calls for calm as Bayern hunt Borussia in Bundesliga

07 April 2012 04:16

Having reached the Champions League semi-finals, Bayern Munich turn their attention back to the German league and resurgent Augsburg as they look to attack Borussia Dortmund's three-point lead.

After beating Olympic Marseille 2-0 in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final for a 4-0 aggregate score, Bayern are chasing a historic treble of European, German Cup and Bundesliga titles and have won all of their last eight games.

After trimming Dortmund's lead from five to three points last weekend, the German league could well be decided by next Wednesday's showdown at Borussia's Signal Iduna Park between Bayern and Dortmund.

But midfielder Thomas Mueller says the focus must be on Augsburg under the old adage 'one game at a time' and the Germany star says only big performances will carry Munich through with Bayern second in the table.

"We have to keep our feet on the ground," warned Mueller.

"We've fought our way back into the title race and we can be pleased about that.

"It's good we have wins behind us, but trends don't make you champions.

"It's easy to work out what we have to do in the run-in, but as we know ourselves, doing it isn't easy at all."

While Bayern are playing down any treble talk -- understandable with champions Barcelona in the other Champions League semi-final -- Bayern's chairman says the Bavarians are serious in their bid to claim all three titles.

"We're in good shape," said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"Fortunately, we're still in contention in all three competitions and we're taking them all seriously, and we're well set up for these 'Bavarian weeks' we're going through with a match every four days.

"We need strong nerves - and I do believe that's what we have."

Dortmund are at 2009 champions Wolfsburg on Saturday as they look to get back to winning ways after their 4-4 draw with VfB Stuttgart on Friday having conceded a last-gasp equaliser.

There has been good and bad news for Dortmund this week with Germany teenage star Mario Goetze back in training after nine weeks out with a groin problem.

On a less positive note, German daily Bild claimed on Wednesday Japan star Hhinji Kagawa is planning a switch to either Premier League giants Manchester United or Chelsea.

The 23-year-old has been in stellar form this season.

His 12 goals in 25 league games have helped keep Dortmund top and he produced a two-goal display in the 6-1 rout of Cologne ten days ago.

According to Bild, Kagawa is considering rejecting Dortmund's offer to double his wages from 1.5 million to three million euros per season and extend his contract, which is due to expire in June 2013, until 2016.

Fixtures

Saturday

VfL Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart v Mainz 05, Freiburg v Nuremberg, Kaiserslautern v Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia M'gladbach v Hertha Berlin

Sunday

Schalke 04 v Hanover 96, Hamburg v Bayer Leverkusen

Source: AFP