Truoc tran Derby cua BM

Bring on the Lions, say Bayern
Elber confident of derby success

On October 21st the citizens of Munich will decide in a referendum whether the Bavarian capital is to have a new football stadium. Understandably enough, Bayern and 1860 have been working together for the cause over the last few weeks.
Thus it is that Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn and "Lions" playmaker Thomas HÔYler have been gazing down from posters in the city arm-in-arm, testifying to "the team spirit of Munich". But on Saturday from 3:30pm, when the 194th Munich derby kicks off in the Olympic Stadium, pre-match harmony will for the time being at least be set aside. "We get along just fine with 1860, but on Saturday no quarter will be given or received," promised HoeneY.

And for Giovane Elber the battle for city supremacy has always been something very special. "Straight after the Rotterdam match this derby was our only topic of conversation. We're ready for it," the Brazilian declared on Friday afternoon.

A day before kick-off the in-form striker was in the best of humours. "I've never been as good as I am at the moment in my time at Bayern. But I have an even better phase coming up," Elber promised. He could not say, however, how many goals he would score on Saturday, "But I promise we'll take the three points." And this will have been music to the ears of his coach. "We want to be at the top of the Bundesliga. So we need three points against the "Lions", declared Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Bayern's coach went on to note there was much more at stake against the Blues than merely league points. "We have a duty to our fans. We have to leave the field victorious, so they can go into work on Monday with their heads held high, and not have to endure taunting and jibes from Lions' fans," he said.

Hitzfeld was hoping 1860 would seek to attack, "so we can play a counter-attacking game. But if they come out in a defensive formation, it will be much more difficult for us." Hitzfeld continues to be deprived of his star midfielders Stefan Effenberg, Mehmet Scholl and Jens Jeremies.

"As usual following a Champions' League fixture I'll be making a couple of changes," Hitzfeld announced, and this despite his limited alternatives at the present. He would not even guarantee hotshot Elber his place in the starting line-up. "I'll make up my mind later," he said - with a smile on his face.

Probable line ups:

TSV 1860 Munich: Jentzsch - Riseth, Zelic, Dheedene - Wiesinger, Cerny, HÔYler, Hoffmann, Weissenberger - Schroth, Agostino

Bayern Munich Kahn - Sagnol, Kuffour, Robert Kovac, Lizarazu - Fink, Sforza, Hargreaves, Salihamidzic - Santa Cruz, Elber

Referee: Mr Krug (Gelsenkirchen)