Bayern's unbeaten run faces stern test

Bayern Munich appear to have grown even
stronger under new coach Pep Guardiola but
when the treble winners travel to Bayer
Leverkusen on Saturday they will line up
opposite the last team to defeat them in the
Bundesliga.
The Bavarians have stretched their unbeaten
league run to 32 games, four shy of the all-
time Bundesliga record, with their last defeat
coming at the hands of their fellow Champions
League competitors in Munich a year ago.
After taking 19 of a possible 21 points from
their opening seven games, Bayern, who have
yet to lose in any competition this season, are
second to Borussia Dortmund on goal
difference with Leverkusen lurking a point
behind in third.
Bayern crushed Manchester City 3-1 in the
Champions League on Wednesday and travel to
Leverkusen with their confidence sky high but
the scorer of the third goal, Arjen Robben, has
warned his teammates to remain focused.
"Last week in our 1-0 win over Wolfsburg the
reviews were bad. Now we are a top team
again so it is best to just stay firmly on the
ground, because in a few days there is the next
big match in Leverkusen," the Dutch winger
said.
"Obviously, we want to pick up where we left
off at Manchester. That is important for our
development."
A victory for Guardiola's team would keep
them either level or ahead of main rivals
Dortmund, who are also undefeated in the
league and have so far given Bayern a good
run for their money.
Leverkusen are equally buoyant after snatching
a last gasp 2-1 win over Spain's Real Sociedad
to get their own Champions League campaign
up and running after an opening Group A
defeat.
Coach Sami Hyypia's team have recorded their
best ever Bundesliga start with six wins out of
seven games, killing off matches with their
trademark lightning-quick counter attacks that
has seen them score more goals than Bayern
so far.
"We have been having a good feeling all
season and are well prepared for this game,"
said Jens Hegeler, whose stoppage time free
kick on Wednesday earned them their first
group win.
"Bayern are Bayern. They are the best team in
the world at the moment but if we do
everything we can then we will have our
chances in this game."
Dortmund, who crushed Olympique Marseille
3-0 in the Champions League this week, travel
to Borussia Moenchengladbach in another of
Saturday's fixtures.