Klose aims to cement Bayern berth in Cologne clash

Germany forward Miroslav Klose is hoping another good performance against Cologne on Saturday in the Bundesliga will cement his starting place as striker.

The 32-year-old forward started Wednesday’s Champions League match on the bench against Roma before coming on to score Bayern’s second goal in the 2-0 win.

Now he looks set to start against Cologne at the Allianz Arena.

Despite winning 103 caps for Germany, Klose has failed to start regularly for Bayern whose coach Louis van Gaal has often opted to have Ivica Olic as his number one striker.

In his last 54 Bundesliga games, Klose has scored 13 goals, but 14 in 22 matches for his country.

Bayern need a win at the Allianz Arena on Saturday to kick start their league campaign after just four points from nine in their first three games.

Klose’s 83rd-minute goal against Roma impressed his coach.

“I am very happy for Klose,” said van Gaal. “We have talked about the fact that Miro always scores a goal in the national side, but not always for me.

“Now he has scored for me and that’s great.”

Bayern’s coach had started Klose in the midfield during the goalless draw against Bremen, but was replaced after the break.

“I can play there, but that is certainly not my favorite position,” said Klose.

Leaders Hoffenheim are at Kaiserslautern on Saturday looking for their fourth consecutive win and with only defender Marvin Compper likely to miss out with a back injury.

Mainz face the toughest test of their winning streak as they travel to Werder Bremen looking for 12 points from their first four games.

Bremen fought back from 2-0 down against Tottenham in the Champions League on Tuesday to equalise and Thomas Schaaf looks to start Aaron Hunt in midfield after he helped lead the fight back.

There are two key derbys this weekend with Hamburg at neighbours St Pauli on Saturday while, in the Ruhr valley, Schalke host Dortmund on Sunday.

There will be added tension at Schalke’s Veltins Arena with Dortmund fans planning to boycott the derby in protest over rising ticket prices.

The match is one of four Bundesliga games this season at Schalke’s Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen where top prices will be charged and a standing-room only seat will cost 22 euros, almost eight euros more than last year.

A seat for Dortmund fans in the visitors section will cost 50 euros.

Almost 200 supporters clubs and fan groups of Dortmund have joined the protest so far and are urging their members to give back any tickets they have bought in a mass protest.

Saturday

Bayern Munich v Cologne, Werder Bremen v Mainz 05, VfB Stuttgart v Borussia M’gladbach, VfL Wolfsburg v Hanover 96, Kaiserslautern v 1899 Hoffenheim

Sunday

St. Pauli v Hamburg, Schalke 04 v Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen v Nuremberg