Mainz ready to topple Bayern again

BERLIN– Coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted Mainz 05 will have to play to their limits to claim a third win from four home games against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Friday, February 01, 2013

SaturdaySchalke 04     vs     Fuerth         16:30Wolfsburg     vs     AugsburgHoffenheim     vs     FreiburgMainz 05     vs     Bayern     Fortuna     vs      StuttgartHamburg     vs     Frankfurt     19:30SundayNuremberg     vs     M’gladbach    16:30Leverkusen     vs     Dortmund    18:30BERLIN– Coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted Mainz 05 will have to play to their limits to claim a third win from four home games against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday.With an 11-point lead at the top of the table, this year’s league title is Bayern’s to lose, but Mainz have a proud record at home to the Bavarians having won two of their last three homes games against Munich.Tuchel, 39, is building an impressive reputation for getting the most from his young Mainz squad and was at the helm when they won their first seven German league matches of 2010 to briefly top the Bundesliga.Despite beating Bayern at home in both 2009 and 2011, Tuchel says the current Munich squad present him with the biggest challenge in his four years at Mainz."This is the hardest game in the last four years,” he said, with midfielder Eric Choupo-Moting and defender Niko Bungert both out and Hungary striker Adam Szalai suspended. "Even if we produce an emotional, top performance, it will still be difficult.” Bayern have yet to concede a goal in 2013 and Tuchel said the Bavarians are the team to beat."In the Bundesliga, Bayern are the measure of all things. Apart from Barcelona, they are the most talented team in Europe.” he said. "If they hit their top level, we won’t be able to do much about it.”Bayern have claimed 15 wins from their 19 matches so far, but last season’s champions Borussia Dortmund are the only team to have won at Coface Arena in the last five months and Mainz have won seven of their last nine home league games.Competition is fierce in the Bayern squad with both wing Arjen Robben and striker Mario Gomez clearly unhappy to be left on the bench.