Schalke and Bayern exchange words before title showdown

(GSM) – Title contenders Schalke 04 and Bayern München have exchanged words before their clash at Veltins Arena this weekend, which could potentially decide who will win the Bundesliga title.

A win against Bayern on Saturday would take Schalke five points clear at the top with just five games of the season remaining.

With stakes running high, Bayern are doing everything they can to unnerve their rivals, including lodging an official complaint with the German Football League (DFL) this week into the state of the pitch.

Bayern claim the surface is unworthy of a Bundesliga fixture and have called on the DFL to punish the Royal Blues, possibly by switching venues or docking them points, but Schalke manager Felix Magath is ignoring the mind games and focusing on his side’s biggest game of the season.

“We would be well advised to concentrate completely on the sporting aspects,” he said.

“There are more important things for me. My team will provide the answer on the field.”

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge knows his side must follow up Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League with another victory after two straight Bundesliga losses.

“This is the game which will decide the title,” he said. “We want to get back to the top with a win, but we cannot lose this game whatsoever.

“It is very important that we have shown a reaction after the Stuttgart game. It is going to be a very tense game, but we have the quality to win.”