Bayern´s Van Bommel delighted to make history

Bayern Munich’s Dutch captain Mark van Bommel is set to make history on Saturday when he becomes the first foreign skipper of the German giants to lift the Bundesliga shield.

With the season ending on Saturday, Bayern are almost sure to be crowned German league champions for the 22nd time at relegated Hertha Berlin as they enjoy a three-point lead and vastly superior goal difference over rivals Schalke.

The 33-year-old is in his second season as captain and said it would be an honour to raise the Bundesliga shield with Munich bidding for a treble of the league title, the Champions League and German Cup trophies.

“It?ll be a very special experience for me,” said the hardtackling midfielder.

“I was captain in Eindhoven for three championship triumphs, and this is my first with Bayern.

“It?s terrific, and it makes me very proud.”

Saturday’s match at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium against bottom-side Hertha will be followed by the following weekend’s German Cup final against Werder Bremen.

It means a busy few weeks for Bayern with the Champions League final to come against Inter Milan in Madrid on May 22.

“We have to keep our foot to the floor,” said Van Bommel.

“Once you?ve lost momentum, it?s hard to pick it up again.

“This is an opportunity you may only have once in an entire career.”

Germany defender Philipp Lahm agreed Bayern need to see off Hertha in style to keep in top form for the finals coming up.

“Once you?ve made it to two finals, you want to win both,” said Lahm.

“It?s not every year you have a chance of the double – or even the treble.”

With Bayern virtually assured the title and Schalke sure to finish in second, Werder Bremen will claim the third Champions League berth if they beat Hamburg.

Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf is expected to name a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mesut Oezil and Marko Marin, who were both named in Germany’s provisional World Cup squad on Thursday, starting in midfield with Claudio Pizarro as the lone striker.

Europa League semi-finalists Hamburg, who beat Nuremberg last weekend, continue their hunt for a new coach with Dutchman Ricardo Moniz continuing as caretaker after the sacking of Bruno Labbadia.

Only Bayer Leverkusen can potentially claim third, but they have to win at strugglers Moenchengladbach and hope Bremen lose.

Leverkusen are without goalkeeper Rene Adler who needs an operation for a rib injury which will keep him out of next month’s World Cup.

At the other end of the table, Berlin are already relegated, but Bochum, Nuremberg and Hanover are all locked in a battle of survival with two out of the three set to go down.

Bochum are at home to Hanover in what promises to be a battle royal while Nuremberg host mid-table Cologne.

Fixtures

Saturday

Hertha Berlin v Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim v VfB Stuttgart, Werder Bremen v Hamburg, Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund, Mainz 05 v Schalke 04, Borussia M’gladbach v Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Bochum v Hanover 96, Nuremberg v Cologne, VfL Wolfsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt