BERLIN, April 2, 2010 (AFP) - Bayern Munich must lay aside their dreams of reaching a first Champions League semi-final since 2001 for Saturday's title crunch at leaders Schalke.
Schalke, unbeaten at home since a September loss to Wolfsburg, go into the game with a two-point lead over the Bavarian giants, who will knock Manchester United out of Europe if they can avoid defeat in their Old Trafford return.
That is largely down to Bayern's lack of consistency in recent league outings which saw back-to-back losses at Frankfurt and at home to Stuttgart as well as draws against Nuremburg and Cologne.
Nonetheless, Bayern come to the Veltins Arena having beaten Schalke in the German Cup semi-final and Dutch skipper Mark Van Bommel said the visitors will go on the attack after proving their mettle in coming from behind to beat United in their quarter-final first leg.
"We will be going for the win - that's the only way we can play," insisted former Barcelona man Van Bommel, who will hope the width that fit-again Arjen Robben can provide will prove decisive.
If Schalke, who have not won the Bundesliga since 1958 despite several near misses, do pull off the title this time around it will be a huge feather in the cap of coach Felix Magath.
Last year the man whose goal won Hamburg the European Cup in 1983 led unfancied Wolfsburg to a stunning championship success before quitting the club for Schalke.
Previously, Magath led Bayern to two championships in 2005 and 2006 before being sacked midway through the next season.
Having wreaked spectacular revenge with Wolfsburg he can now once again prove his credentials at the expense of his former employers by pulling off another title coup.
Magath's Wolfsburg sent Bayern packing 5-1 last season and he believes the Champions League may yet prove a distraction for the visitors as his men plot a ninth straight home win.
"I am assuming that they will have the (Manchester United) return in the back of their minds and a possible semi-final appearance. For Bayern the return in Manchester is the most important game of the season," he said.
Third-placed Bayer Leverkusen lie three points behind Bayern and fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen, respectively four and five points further back, are still hoping to have a say in where the crown ultimately ends up.
Leverkusen have a tricky encounter at a Frankfurt side who are only three points behind sixth-placed Hamburg while Dortmund host a Bremen side who share their hope of bagging at least a qualifier Champions League spot.
Stuttgart, whose former Arsenal and Germany keeper Jens Lehmann is to retire at season's end, can move closer to a Europa League slot with a win over midtable Borussia Moenchengladbach.
At the wrong end of the table Hertha Berlin look doomed in bottom spot, where they will remain even with victory Sunday at Cologne, who are not safe yet.
Wolfsburg, 13 points below the Champions League slots, will meanwhile reflect on how without Magath life is not quite the same as the outgoing champions host fellow midtable outfit Hoffenheim.
Fixtures:
Saturday (1330 GMT)
Schalke 04 v Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen, SC Freiburg v VfL Bochum, VfB Stuttgart v Borussia M'gladbach, 1. FC Nuremberg v Mainz 05
Sunday
VfL Wolfsburg v 1899 Hoffenheim (1330), SV Hamburg v Hannover 96 (1530), Cologne v Hertha Berlin (1630)
