‘PR’ boosts Bayern ahead of Hamburg

BERLIN - Reuters

Claudio Pizarro (L) and Arjen Robben (R) produced all four of Bayern Munich’s goals during their German DFB Cup win over 1. FC Kaiserslautern. REUTERS Photo

With Claudio Pizarro and Arjen Robben back in goal-scoring form, Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich rolls into Hamburg brimming with confidence ahead of the derby on Nov. 3.

The pair, dubbed the ‘PR show’ after notching all the goals in a 4-0 German Cup victory over Kaiserslautern, made sure Bayern rebounded in style after suffering its first league defeat last week.
Peruvian Pizarro, who at 34 returned for a second spell at Bayern to play a back-up striking role, has not featured much with top scorer Mario Mandzukic grabbing the starting spot in place of the injured Mario Gomez.

On Oct. 31, however, when coach Jupp Heynckes fielded a second string team, Pizarro grabbed his chance with both hands, scoring twice and setting up the other two for Robben, who had returned from a month-long injury break only days earlier.

The Dutch winger’s first start since a back injury that had ruled him out for more than four weeks showed he is racing back to his best just when Bayern need him most.

Bayern’s 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend snapped its record eight-win start to the season but their Cup performance showed it has learned from its implosion at the same stage last year when it squandered a big lead to end a second straight season with no silverware.

“Despite the many changes in the team, they worked like a unit, with a lot of enthusiasm and discipline,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes. “They earned it themselves.”

Heynckes will need all the players he can muster against Hamburg, with the northern club in sparkling form after a bad start to the season.

With three wins in its last four league games, Hamburg is giving their fans something to smile about, lifting itself out of the basement and into seventh place.

“I can’t wait for the game. We have three points to lose and we want to win this match,” said Hamburg keeper Rene Adler, whose superb saves have fanned speculation of a Germany comeback.

He lost his first choice spot to Bayern’s Manuel Neuer after a rib injury shortly before the 2010 World Cup.

“The (Leverkusen) game showed that if we stay compact we can make it hard for them. No team is
 unbeatable,” he said.

Second-placed Schalke, on 20 points, travels to lowly Hoffenheim while champion Borussia Dortmund (fourth place on 15) is looking for its first back-to-back league wins when it hosts in-form VfB Stuttgart.