Bayern boss eyes treble despite United threat

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal wants to win a treble of Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles despite his team having to face Manchester United in Europe next week.

“I want to win all three trophies,” said the Dutchman, whose side host Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday before welcoming United in the Champions League quarter-finals first leg on Tuesday.

Even though they lost 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday, Bayern are a point clear at the top of the league and booked their place in the German Cup final with a 1-0 extra-time win over Schalke on Wednesday.

Once resurgent Stuttgart and United have visited Munich, Bayern will continue a tough programme of matches.

They will face German league title rivals Schalke again in the Bundesliga on April 3.

Van Gaal’s side will then travel to play United at Old Trafford for the Champions League last eight second-leg and then face title rivals Bayer Leverkusen away on April 10.

“I?m really looking forward to these games,” said van Gaal. “The programme we have is the best thing that could happen to us.

“The league title is the priority for Bayern Munich, but all the players want to win the cup too. I want to win all three trophies.”

After such a gruelling schedule, van Gaal’s side then has one of the easiest possible title run-ins with relegation contenders Hanover, Moenchengladbach, Bochum and bottom-side Hertha their last four league opponents.

Both Stuttgart and Bayern will be at full strength with the visitors needing a win to stay in the hunt for a European berth for next season, while Bayern must make amends for last Saturday’s shock defeat.

Stuttgart have Germany defender Serdar Tasci back from a groin injury in a rearranged defence with Stefano Celozzi suffering a thigh injury, Holland’s Khalid Boulahrouz is expected to play despite illness in midweek.

Second-placed Schalke 04 take on third-placed Leverkusen on Saturday with two points separating the teams.

Leverkusen have lost two of their last three games, while Schalke are on a roll and are unbeaten in their last four league matches.

Bayer midfielder Stefan Reinartz takes over from the banned Arturo Vidal who picked up his tenth yellow card of the season in the 3-0 defeat at Dortmund.

Leverkusen’s playmaker Toni Kroos replaces Renato Augusto while Germany striker Patrick Helmes starts a game for the first time since his cruciate ligament operation.

The league’s top-scorer Stefan Kiessling sits out the match with a pulled muscle.

Buoyed by last Sunday’s shock 5-1 win at defending champions Wolfsburg, bottom side Hertha Berlin will host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday who are up to fourth and chasing a European place.

Hertha coach Friedhelm Funkel has kept faith with the side which won in Wolfsburg as they look to close the five-point gap which keeps them from safety.

Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios has scored two goals in both of the last two games and with 15 goals for the season, is just one away from Kiessling in the scoring charts.

Saturday

Mainz 05 v VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich v VfB Stuttgart, Hertha Berlin v Borussia Dortmund, Hanover 96 v Cologne, Werder Bremen v Nuremberg, Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke 04

Sunday

Hoffenheim v Freiburg, Borussia M’gladbach v Hamburg