Bundesliga preview: Bayern await Hamburg visit

Bayern Munich will look to extend their 17-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga when they host Hamburg on Saturday.

The Bavarian giants have been in stunning form domestically, winning their last nine fixtures and conceding just four goals in the process.

And that has seen them claim a 20-point lead at the top of the table, with a 23rd top-flight title just weeks away.

Key to Bayern’s success this season has been their variety of scoring options.

The signing of Mario Mandzukic has proved a masterstroke, with the Croatian following on from a terrific Euro 2012 with 15 goals in 21 Bundesliga appearances.

Germans Thomas Mueller (12 goals in 22) and Mario Gomez (seven in 14) have also impressed while the likes of Franck Ribery, Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben have weighed in with goals from midfield.

Bayern have scored 69 times in 26 Bundesliga matches, which makes a mockery of Hamburg’s paltry 30 strikes.

But the eighth-placed side won on their last road trip – a 1-0 success at Stuttgart – and will enjoy the pressure being on their opponents at the Allianz Arena.

“We clearly are the underdog but this role fits us well,” Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink said.

“That’s why I believe we can get some points in Munich. We want to play cheekily and offensive … and if we will lose, than at least it will be after a good performance.

“To play Bayern is always something special, they are always the big favourite. They didn’t concede many goals but (Fortuna) Dusseldorf showed us how you can score against them.

“Arsenal won there (in Munich in the UEFA Champions League) and we will try very hard to do that too. Everything is possible in football and I always trust in my team.”

While the title race is all but over, an exciting battle between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen for second place is set for a thrilling finale.

Dortmund, who have won the last two league titles, sit four points clear of Leverkusen and travel to 12th-placed Stuttgart on Saturday.

Leverkusen are also on the road on Saturday and will visit Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt will fancy their chances at bottom-placed Greuther Furth on Sunday, while the other game that day sees Wolfsburg host Nurenberg.

Other fixtures on Saturday see Schalke battle Hoffenheim, Borussia Moenchengladbach go to Freiburg, Mainz take on Werder Bremen and Augsburg meet Hannover.