The FC Bayern first team squad left the training ground at Säbener Straße late on Thursday morning before sleet started falling from the skies. They had just completed the penultimate training session ahead of Saturday’s away game at FSV Mainz 05, which marks the start of the first busy period of fixtures in 2018 with three games in eight days.
“I prefer playing loads of games as the week goes by quicker when we’ve got two matches,” said Javi Martínez after training as he looked forward to the increased work rate in the next few weeks. After the match at Mainz, FCB are away to third division league leaders SC Paderborn on Tuesday night in the DFB Cup quarter-finals before FC Schalke 04 visit the Allianz Arena four days later.
“We’re well prepared for the games over the next month,” declared Martínez, who missed out on last weekend’s 5-2 victory over 1899 Hoffenheim due to a bout of gastroenteritis. The midfield enforcer is fit for the trip to Mainz and he is in with a good chance of returning to the starting eleven.
Mats Hummels has taken part in full training this week and the defender is also keen to make the starting line-up. Arturo Vidal was sidelined with a stomach infection. Sandro Wagner trained on his own in the performance centre after failing to complete the previous day’s training session.