Huntelaar hopes to close gap

Klass Jan Huntelaar wants Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to lose on Saturday, as his Schalke side prepare to face Hoffenheim.

Schalke are second on the table, four points back from Bayern, and former Real Madrid striker Huntelaar is hoping to close that gap during this weekend’s fixtures.

“Bayern are top, we’re second. If Bayern lose this weekend, that will be great for us,” the Dutchman told Bild.

However, general manager Horst Heldt feels Bayern are likely to be more concerned with other rivals, such as defending champions Borussia Dortmund.

“What bothers me is the word hunter,” he said, when asked about Schalke’s designs on top spot.

“I think that Bayern are more concerned with other teams than with Schalke.”

Schalke coach Huub Stevens has also dismissed the notion of a simmering rivalry between the two powerhouses.

“That’s not my problem,” he said.

“I focus on my tasks in Gelsenkirchen and not in Munich. Things are going well for us. But we’re not where we want to be.”