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Bundesliga title is everything, insists Luca Toni

BERLIN (AFP) – Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni says his side must defend their Bundesliga title or risk being part of a lost generation as they look to over-haul leaders Wolfsburg starting Saturday against Schalke.

“We will only be remembered if we win the title,” said Italy’s Toni, who has scored 12 league goals this season.

“If we do not do it, it will have been a lost year.”

The defending champions are second in the table and level with Hamburg, who are also three points behind leaders Wolfsburg.

They host Schalke, who are sixth in the league and on the verge of a European berth for next season, at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday and with six games left Bayern can ill afford to drop any more points.

“This is the best part of the season,” said Bayern defender Philipp Lahm.

“Every goal and every point really counts, and you?re punished for every mistake.”

And with Schalke, Moenchengladbach, Cottbus, Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and Stuttgart as their remaining games, Bayern are targeting a maximum 18 points.

“We?re aiming to win all our remaining games,” announced Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

In the preparation for the Schalke game Bayern welcomed back Ze Roberto, Breno, Lukas Podolski and Massimo Oddo while only goalkeeper Michael Rensing (torn finger tendon) and ankle-injury victim Miroslav Klose are still unable to train.

Wolfsburg have by far the deadliest attack in the the league with Brazil striker Grafite having scored 22 while his forward partner Edin Dzeko is only just behind on 16.

Having been knocked out of the German Cup on Wednesday when they lost the semi-final 3-1 on penalties to Werder Bremen, third-placed Hamburg travel to Borussia Dortmund who, with just four defeats, are the hardest team to beat in the league.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, whose side are seventh in the table after winning their last four games, is expected to keep the same side for the fourth consecutive game with Swiss striker Alexander Frei alongside Nelson Valdez in attack.

With six wins from their last seven games, fifth-placed Stuttgart are making a late bid for the league title and coach Markus Babbel will demand three more points from their trip to mid-table Frankfurt.

After booking their place in next month’s German Cup final by beating second division Mainz in midweek, Bayer Leverkusen take on bottom side Karlsruhe who with six games left look almost certain to be relegated.

In Saturday’s other games, German Cup finalists Werder Bremen are at home to Bochum while Hanover host Cologne.

And on Sunday, relegation candidates Borussia Moenchengladbach and Arminia Bielefeld will slug it out.

Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin went second in the Bundesliga on Friday, behind leaders Wolfsburg, after badboy midfielder Patrick Ebert hit the first-half goal which sealed his side’s 1-0 win at Hoffenheim.

The three points moves former league leaders Hertha up from fourth to second in the table and two points behind Wolfsburg who are in action on Sunday at struggling Cottbus.

But fellow former league leaders Hoffenheim are now virtually out of the title race as they suffered their third defeat in their last four games and are now down to eighth in the league, 12 points behind Wolfsburg.

Saturday

Bayern Munich v Schalke 04

Borussia Dortmund v Hamburg

VfB Stuttgart v Eintracht Frankfurt

Bayer Leverkusen v Karlsruhe

Werder Bremen v VfL Bochum

Hanover v Cologne

Sunday

Energie Cottbus v VfL Wolfsburg

Borussia M’gladbach v Arminia Bielefeld

Tags: alexander frei, allianz arena, ankle injury, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, borussia dortmund, brazil, Bremen, breno, Bundesliga, cologne, consecutive game, Cottbus, final 3, FRANKFURT, german cup, Germany, Hamburg, Hanover, Hoffenheim, injury victim, Italy, jurgen klopp, league goals, luca toni, Lukas Podolski, markus babbel, michael rensing, miroslav klose, Munich, nelson valdez, Patrick Ebert, philipp lahm, remaining games, Roberto, stuttgart

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