Bayern to rotate at Hamburg

One, two... enough! Carlo Ancelotti payed a visit to the Oktoberfest with his coaching staff but called it a day at two beers. “It was just the two. It was a nice moment,” he said just 24 hours later on Friday afternoon. “Everything is okay today. I’m fine.” No headache it seems, so the FCB coach is in great condition – and he has to be to prepare his side for the trip to Hamburg on Saturday (follow the match via the live ticker and web radio, kick-off 15:30 CEST). Ancelotti stressed, “I am sure that it will be difficult for us tomorrow.”

But watch out for Hamburg even though the northern club have won just one point from their opening four games. “I think that Hamburg will try to defend well and counter. They have pace up front. We have to watch out for that,” said Ancelotti, who also demanded “good balance” from his team, and a start “like against Hertha.”

Ancelotti to rotate

Bayern pressurised the Berliners from the beginning on Wednesday, took the lead after a quarter of an hour and won comfortably 3-0. Saturday will be about building on that, although with a different line-up. The Italian announced, “We will rotate.”

Mats Hummels, for example, will start the match, said the FCB head coach. Manuel Neuer and Robert Lewandowski are also guaranteed a position in the starting XI. Arjen Robben will not start but will feature. “I have spoken with him and he will start on the bench,” announced Ancelotti, “he can play the second half.” Jérôme Boateng will also be a substitute following his first start on his return from injury: “He played very well, but tomorrow he will start on the bench.” Ancelotti is managing the work load of his players just like he did his Oktoberfest beer.

The opposition:

Bruno Labbadia: “It’s become to unbelievably difficult to beat Bayern. They are so flexible in the way they play, and they have such great individual talent in their side. You can have a very good plan but they have individual quality. So if we get any half chances, we have to take them. We have to grasp the opportunity.”

Ruled out: Dennis Diekmeier (calf injury)

Doubtful: Filip Kostic (groin problem)