Bayern Munich could welcome back midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger as they try to keep their title challenge on track at mid-table Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Bayern have now dropped seven points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund following a 2-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
On Wednesday they issued a statement in support of coach Jupp Heynckes following German media reports his job was in danger.
After last Saturday’s demoralising defeat at Leverkusen there has again been some fighting talk from the Bayern camp.
Sports director Christian Nerlinger said there was no longer any need to talk about winning the league, but after the gloom lifted club president Uli Hoeness said during the week: “The title has not been decided yet but we have to get some good results to put pressure on Dortmund.”
Schweinsteiger, who injured his ankle ligaments against VfB Stuttgart four weeks ago, has resumed training and could bring some much-needed stability to the midfield.
Bayern have stuttered without the Germany international and have won only four of their nine matches this year.
However, their home form has been good, with six successive wins at the Allianz Arena.
“We need a good run of results,” Heynckes said. “I am not giving up the championship in any way. I fight to the end.”
For Hoffenheim coach Marcus Babbel, it is a visit to his former club for the second time this season after a 4-0 defeat while in charge of Hertha Berlin.
But Babbel says the fact that Bayern might feel under pressure won’t give Hoffenheim the edge in Munich.
“You’re always under pressure at Bayern, and you’re always expected to win every single match, even when you’re up at the top,” he told Bayern’s website.
“Most of the players have been around a couple of years and it’s all they know.
“We won’t go looking for a hiding place but let’s be clear about one thing: Bayern are absolutely the favourites.”
Dortmund meanwhile aim to continue a club record eight-match winning run at lowly Augsburg who have improved enough in recent weeks to move off the bottom to third last.
However talk of a second successive league title is premature for all concerned at the club where, in the words of defender Matts Hummels, “Bayern are still the favourites for everybody.”
Coach Juergen Klopp said after last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Mainz: “We don’t feel we are already halfway there. We are merely putting ourselves into a good position for an exciting finish.”
Third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, one point behind Bayern, host second-last Freiburg, while Bayer Leverkusen must recover from a 7-1 thrashing by Barcelona in the Champions League for a trip to Wolfsburg.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Hertha Berlin, who won their first game last week under Otto Rehhagel, are at Cologne in a game between two struggling sides, and Mainz entertain Nuremberg.
Fourth-placed Schalke host SV Hamburg, and Werder Bremen meet Hanover in matches on Sunday, while bottom side Kaiserslautern are at Stuttgart on Friday evening.
