Munich out to turn tables against rivals Dortmund

Bayern Munich are out to break their losing streak against defending champions Borussia Dortmund today in the Bundesliga clash, which has been described as the Clasico of Germany.

Munich managed a 2-1 pre-season victory at home to Dortmund in August's Super Cup, but the Bavarian giants are eager to break a Bundesliga run of four defeats in their last four league meetings with Borussia.

Bayern midfielder Javi Martinez, who joined Munich from Athletic Bilbao in August, has likened the Dortmund-Bayern clash to the Real Madrid-Barcelona El Clasico in Spain.

"I have followed the duel in Spain and it is a bit like the Clasico," said the 24-year-old.

"There have always been problems against Dortmund and we have to change that."

Bayern had already lost to second-placed Bayer Leverkusen at home this season and must make home advantage count, said Munich midfielder Toni Kroos. "Dortmund are the team with the highest quality after us," he said.

"We know they are a strong opponent against whom we have had big problems in the last two years. We want to show we can do better against them."

Bayern will have virtually a full strength squad to choose from with only Luiz Gustavo and Arjen Robben out with injury.

Dortmund have a few concerns of their own with midfield pair Mario Goetze and Ilkay Gundogan, and defender Mats Hummels all facing a race to be fit.

Both Hoffenheim coach Markus Babbel and his Augsburg counterpart Markus Weinzierl are under pressure to turn results around with both teams in the bottom three.

Hoffenheim, who host Werder Bremen on Sunday, are 16th after their 4-2 defeat at Nuremberg, which saw Babbel criticise his players, while Augsburg are home to Freiburg today.

"This is not about Markus Babbel, this is about TSG Hoffenheim," said Babbel with one victory and five defeats in the past nine games.

"You have to wonder what is in the players' heads. I will do all I can to get us out of this difficult situation. That is clear."

Likewise, Weinzierl has just one win and five defeats in his last nine matches and badly needs a victory over Freiburg.

Having dropped to fourth in the Bundesliga, Schalke 04 are looking to put a disastrous November behind them when they host ninth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach following just one victory in last month's five league matches.

Bayer Leverkusen host Nuremberg, in 13th place.