Thomas Tuchel warns Bayern have ‘everything to lose’ against Darmstadt

Thomas Tuchel admits Bayern Munich have “everything to lose” when they face rock bottom Darmstadt as they attempt to keep their Bundesliga challenge alive.

Bayern are running out of time to make inroads into Bayer Leverkusen’s 10-point lead at the top of the table but will be runaway favourites to steamroller opponents who have won just twice all season.

When the teams met at the Allianz Arena in October, Tuchel’s side put on a ruthless display, winning 8-0 on the back of a Harry Kane hat-trick, and hammered Mainz 8-1 at the weekend.

Tuchel accepts that places all of the onus and expectation on Bayern but does not expect them to falter.

“The situation is clear but we won’t stumble. We have everything to lose, Darmstadt have everything to gain,” he said.

“That’s the task, we’re not doing it for the first time. The team have trained completely for this.

“I’m convinced that we’ll go into the game with the right attitude. We will prepare for it and have the ambition to take only the right approach.

“When we put on the jersey, we have to give it our all and the only goal is to win the game.”

Bayern will once again be missing the injured Kingsley Coman, Noussair Mazraoui, Bouna Sarr and Tarek Buchmann and will be hoping to avert further losses before the international break.

He will have two extra players on his hands during the friendly window, with Leon Goretzka dropped by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann and forward Leroy Sane suspended following a red card against Austria in November.

“Goretzka is obviously very disappointed; it’s a harsh decision,” said Tuchel.

“We’re pushing him, he’s been very good recently and has trained well too. I fully expect him to play tomorrow and play well. But the selections are Julian Nagelsmann’s decision, it’s not my job to comment on that.”

As for Sane, Tuchel challenged him to earn a quiet week with a big display on Saturday.

“He has to deliver tomorrow otherwise he’ll be in training every day!” he joked.

“We have to bridge it well for him, he’ll be here training and treating his aches and pains.”

Torsten Lieberknecht’s strugglers are under no illusion about the adversity they face, but midfielder Andreas Muller took an optimistic stance.

“If no-one expects it, it’s all the more beautiful if we can provide a surprise,” he said.

“It’s just cool for every player to play against world champions to whom you used to look up to as a small child.”