Bayern in a groove for start of key run at Bayer

Soccer Betting Lines

11/28/2008 - Leverkusen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Striker Miroslav Klose said this week Bayern Munich was "really getting into the groove," and it couldn't have come at a more crucial time.

Bayern secured a berth in the knockout stage of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Steaua Bucharest and extended its unbeaten streak to 12 matches - eight in the Bundesliga and four in the Champions league.

The defending league champions sit fourth entering the weekend with four weeks left in the first half of the campaign, but play four of the top teams in the league - including the two teams ahead of them in the standings in the next two weeks.

The stretch, which Bayern striker Luca Toni described as "vital, decisive games," starts Saturday against Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena.

Bayer is third in the league - leading Bayern on goal differential - and both teams are three points behind first-place Hoffenheim. Bayern hosts Hoffenheim on Dec. 5, then visits Stuttgart and Hamburg in its last two league matches before the winter break.

Bayern also wraps up the group stage of the Champions League at France's Lyon on Dec. 10, needing at least a 1-1 draw to secure the top spot. Bayern and Lyon are level on points, but the French club has the tiebreaker based on goals scored on the road.

But the 21-time German champions have to forget about the pursuit of their fifth Champions League title - for two weeks at least - and focus on the league to cross off the only item on first-year boss Jurgen Klinsmann's Christmas wish list.

"We want to end up where we belong, top of the league," Klinsmann said. "We're keeping up the pressure on the top two, and we're still aiming to be top at Christmas."

Bayern's "groove" will be tested in its next five matches, especially since four of the games are on the road. Bayern has been the best team on the road in the Bundesliga this season, posing a 4-1-2 record away from Allianz Arena in league matches.

The Munich club's defense - which set a league record last year for fewest goals allowed in a season - has been a key factor on the road with just six goals allowed in seven matches. In the Champions League, Bayern has allowed just two goals - one an own goal - on the road in three matches.

So although the defense has struggled more this season, it has stepped up when necessary. The attack, guided by German international Klose, Italian World Cup winner Toni and French midfielder Franck Ribery, has also been on fire recently.

"We've improved in attack just as much as we've improved in defense," Bayern and German defender Philipp Lahm said.

Bayer, which is coming off a 2-1 loss at Arminia Bielefeld last weekend, will be without midfielder Sascha Dum this week. He was given a one-game suspension for a red card in last week's match. Renato Augusto (tonsillitis) and Stefan Kiessling (gastroenteritis) are doubtful for the Bayern match.

"We've taken precautionary measures and are trying to avoid physical contact wherever possible at the moment. That may sound trivial but thats part and parcel of being a professional," Bayer coach Bruno Labbadia said.

Even with the possible absences, Labbadia was confident his side would learn from the Arminia loss.

"Its fine if we can do the same as in recent weeks and learn quickly. But now its time to match one of, if not even the, strongest sides in Germany and collect all three points," said Labbadia, who has led Bayer to a 5-2-0 mark at home.

Hoffenheim gets Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday, but hosts the match. Hoffenheim has the chance to create a six-point gap on Bayern or Bayer, and could have a five-point overall lead if its rivals draw.

"It'll be interesting to see how it all looks come mid-December," Klinsmann said.

On Friday, Gojko Kacar and Marko Pantelic scored to lead Hertha Berlin to a 2-1 win over Koln and into second place before the weekend fixtures.

Also Saturday, Werder Bremen hosts Eintracht, Hannover hosts Karlsruhe and Monchengladbach hosts Energie.

On Sunday, New Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel makes his league debut when his club hosts Schalke, Bochum hosts Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund hosts Wolfsburg.