?Octoberfest? in black?n yellow?

Please, let's all forget Thursday and let's all forget Sevilla!

A bitter end for our Borussia although our team tried everything to turn the tide. For Jürgen Klopp it was too dangerous to criticize the referee's decisions. So let's all agree with Kevin Grosskreutz' comment after the match: "After Marcel Schmelzer's undeserved red card it was a match 10 against 12!" Yes Kevin, you're right, there's nothing more to be added!

And now let us take a look on Sunday afternoon and on our home match against Bayern Munich! After a defeat in the first match against Leverkusen, we saw five wins in a row in the league and now we all are curious about our upcoming match against the mighty, red dressed team from the South. Without a doubt beside the derby against Sch...e, the duel with German record champion Bayern will be our second Bundesliga highlight within two weeks!

Also without a doubt the start into this season is up to now absolutely disappointing for all Bayern professionals and supporters. Of course in the Champions league the club is on target with a win against AS Rom and a lucky last minute win against Magic Alex Frei's FC Basel – but in the league? Currently only at position 9 with only 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. Not the best track record for the everlasting favorite for the German championship! Not to forget that Bayern's defeat at home against Mainz was one of the biggest surprises of the last matchday. Noticeable as well is the low number of goals after six matches. Only five for Bayern, including two of Thomas Müller, one of Bastian Schweinsteiger, one of Daniel van Buyten and one own goal of Mainz. These are poor results for Bayern's high class strikers including Miroslav Klose, Ivica Olic or Mario Gomez. Admittedly the injury of offensive midfielder Arjen Robby is a debilitation for Bayern's team. The time of his return into the team is still uncertain. In the opinion of Bayern's management, Robben played injured during the World cup in South Africa. According to Bayern's assumption there are still a lot of discussions between Bayern's management and the Dutch Football Association about a possible compensation for damages. Not enough Franck Ribery will be also out of action after suffering a torn ligament in Hoffenheim. From today's point of view he will not return to team training before the second half of October. Unusual compared to former years was Bayern's transfer strategy for this season: No new team members were acquired. Only players on loan to other clubs returned to Munich: Toni Kroos (from Bayer Leverkusen), Breno and Andreas Ottl (from Nuremberg) and Edson Braafheid (from Celtic Glasgow). It was a matter of trust for Bayern's management to extend the contract with coach Louis van Gaal until June 2012. Not a common step with regard to Bayern's current position in the league but proof enough that Beckenbauer, Hoeness, Rummenigge, Nerlinger & Co. still believe in van Gaal's experience and abilities as a coach with highest utility for Bayern.

What's about Borussia after the unlucky defeat in the Europa league and before the top match on Sunday? Good news about Kevin Grosskreutz: Jogi Löw nominated Kevin for the European qualification matches against Turkey and Kazakhstan. After Kevin's debut for Germany against Malta in May this year there will maybe a chance for Kevin's second or even third international match. Furthermore Jogi Löw confirmed that Mats Hummels and Mario Götze are still on his list for international matches.

Main question before the match against Bayern is: Are Borussia's young guns able to recover from the unlucky defeat against Sevilla? Jürgen Klopp gave the answers at Friday's press conference: All 11 players who started against Sevilla are able to play. Patrick Owomoyela is again struggling with ankle joint problems and Mario Götze got a cold in addition to his muscle stiffness before the match against Sevilla. But until Sunday there will be a chance for their recovery. With regard to possible physical and mental exhaustion of his team Klopp's answer was simple and clear: "We are in great shape, for us it's no problem to play Sunday again!" But Klopp is also totally down-to-earth when he sees Bayern as a clear favorite. "Bayern's squad is full of international players and they are much better than the table currently shows!" On the other hand Bayern's president Uli Hoeness stated: "We have to win to make the Bundesligs more thrilling...otherwise it will be difficult to make up the missing points until Christmas". For the audience of more than 80.000 in our Westfalenstadion the best requirements for an exciting match: Top favorite Bayern is in urgent need to climb higher, Borussia wants to stay at least at position two. Kevin Grosskreutz said after the match against Sevilla: "We are superfit, fired up and want to blow away Bayern!" The best attitude for Sunday 17:30 CET!

Henry, 02.10.2010