Champions Dortmund out to claim more records

27 April 2012 01:47

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said although they have retained their Bundesliga title, his goal-hungry team wants more records and to add the German Cup to their league crown.

On Saturday, Dortmund are at bottom side Kaiserslautern, who are already relegated, looking to extend their record run of 27 games without defeat in a single German league season.

With his team on 75 points and with two games left, Dortmund are closing in on Bayern Munich's record, from the early 1970s, of 79 points earned in a single German league season.

"We can only break that record if we win our last two matches, so that's the goal for us now" said Klopp.

They are also chasing more silverware and take on Bayern in the German Cup final on May 12, just a week before the Bavarians play Chelsea in the Champions League final at their own Allianz Arena.

Having partied hard last Saturday night after their 2-0 win at home to Moenchengladbach confirmed they had defended the league title, Klopp said it was business as usual this week.

"The Saturday night we enjoyed to the fullest, but on Monday I did not feel anything was different and we want to quickly get back into the season," said Klopp.

Dortmund will be without Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski, who has a chest infection, while left back Marcel Schmelzer is an injury concern having strained a calf muscle.

"It doesn't look good for him," said Klopp.

Germany's teenage star Mario Goetze is expected to play a full part having come on as a second-half substitute last Saturday for his first appearance of 2012 after suffering with a groin problem.

"He will definitely play," Klopp said.

"He is in a great shape and he needs practice, but we are not sure whether he will get the 90 minutes."

Having beaten Real Madrid 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out on Wednesday to book their place in the Champions League final, second-placed Bayern return to league duty at home to VfB Stuttgart.

Bayern confirmed Thursday that Croatia striker Ivica Olic will leave for Wolfsburg at the end of the season, but he could feature against fifth-placed Stuttgart as coach Jupp Heynckes looks to rest key players.

Unbeaten in their last 10 league games, Stuttgart have risen up to claim one of the Europa League places for next season and will be eager to take more points off Bayern who will be coming down from their own European high.

At the other end of the table, second-from-bottom Hertha Berlin badly need a win at third-placed Schalke to keep alive their hopes of staying in the Bundesliga.

Coach Otto Rehhagel, 73, took his squad away for a three-day training camp to west Germany in midweek to escape the pressure of the media and fans as he looks to keep the capital club in the top flight.

Likewise, Cologne need points at Freiburg on Saturday to escape 16th place, which means a relegation play-off against the third best team in the second division at the end of the season.

Cologne are almost sure to lose Germany striker Lukas Podolski to Premier League giants Arsenal at the end of the season, according to numerous reports in the German media.

Playing Saturday:

Kaiserslautern v Borussia Dortmund

VfL Wolfsburg v Werder Bremen

Bayer Leverkusen v Hanover 96

Hamburg v Mainz 05

Hoffenheim v Nuremberg

Bayern Munich v VfB Stuttgart

Freiburg v Cologne

Borussia M'gladbach v Augsburg

Schalke 04 v Hertha Berlin

Source: AFP