By Kevin Fylan
FRANKFURT, Sept 9 - Bayern Munich's perfect
Bundesliga record will be under threat on Saturday when they
travel without Roy Makaay for a Bavarian derby against FC
Nuremberg.
Bayern have had an easy time of it in the league so far this
season, taking maximum points from three games to build a
two-point lead at the top of the table.
Nuremberg are second to bottom with just a point but the
absence of Makaay makes this a potential banana skin for the
champions.
The Dutchman has scored six of Bayern's 11 goals so far in a
blistering start to the season and to make matters worse
Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz is also doubtful with a
hamstring injury.
"I'm starting to think I may have to do without both of
them," said coach Felix Magath, who will also have to bear in
mind his line-up for Wednesday's Champions League clash with
Rapid Vienna.
The injuries mean the Peruvian Claudio Pizarro is likely to
start as a lone striker, with Ze Roberto and Ali Karimi
providing support from the wings. Pizarro has yet to find the
net in the league this season.
Nuremberg have injury problems of their own, with Slovakia
midfielder Marek Mintal likely to miss the game.
LEADING SCORER
Mintal was the leading scorer in the Bundesliga this season
but his impact has been less noticeable this term, with just one
goal to his name.
Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen are the other two German sides
who will have the Champions League on their minds this weekend.
Schalke, who slipped behind Bayern when they were held to a
draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach in their last game, will
welcome back playmaker Lincoln from suspension for their trip to
face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
"With Lincoln in the team we can beat anyone," Schalke coach
Ralf Rangnick said of the Brazilian, whose offer to play for
Germany was recently turned down.
Werder Bremen host Barcelona in the Champions League on
Wednesday but before they can prepare for that daunting task
they must visit Kaiserslautern on Saturday.
Kaiserslautern, like Bremen, have won two of their three
games this season, largely because of the outstanding form of
Turkish striker Halil Altintop, the league's joint top scorer
with six goals.
Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf should have Johan Micoud and
Torsten Frings back from injury but goalkeeper Tim Wiese is
still unavailable.
The other focus of the weekend will be on Cologne striker
Lukas Podolski, who scored a hat-trick for Germany in their 4-2
win over South Africa in midweek.
Cologne have two wins from three on their return to the
Bundesliga and will have every chance of maintaining their good
start away to Borussia Dortmund, who have already lost their
place in the Cup and are struggling in the league with two
points from three games.