With a place in the Champions League last sixteen safely in the bag and European competition now going into hibernation until mid-February, Munich are free to focus on the last three domestic fixtures of 2010. One is a cup tie, and the other two are crucial league encounters, with the first of them against St. Pauli on Saturday (Live in English from 3.15 pm on FCB.tv Web Radio). A win is an absolute must in Bayern’s final home outing prior to the mid-season break, as the champions are desperate to cut the seven-point gap between themselves and third spot in the standings.
“We all hope we can do it. We’re aware of the position in the Bundesliga, so nothing less than victory will do, that’s clear,” commented director of sport Christian Nerlinger on the eve of the clash with the promoted club from Hamburg. “I believe now is the time for our team to up the ante in the league,” urged chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, “our current position in the table and the gap to the leading teams are not what we expect of Bayern.”
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