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Bayern goes to Stuttgart Kaiserslautern fights for survival at DortmundPosted: Thursday December 05, 2002 12:16 PMFRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- For Stuttgart coach Felix Magath, there is only one way to make the Bundesliga season more suspenseful -- beat Bayern Munich on Saturday. Stuttgart, however, is Bayern's favorite stadium to visit -- with a 19-9 record, Bayern has won in Stuttgart more than at any other stadium outside its own in the Bundesliga. But if there is one time for Stuttgart to improve its home record against Bayern, then it is now. Bayern has been rolling through the Bundesliga and holds a six-point lead, but the German powerhouse has been playing anything but convincing soccer. It struggled through a dull, scoreless draw in regulation time against Schalke in the third round of the German Cup on Wednesday and only went through after beating the two-time defending champion 5-4 in the penalty shootout. Stuttgart, on the other hand, has been thrilling crowds across the country with its young, talented squad and its attacking style. "Bayern is strong but we haven't lost at home this season and that's the way it should stay. I would tip a draw," striker Kevin Kuranyi said. The 20-year-old sensation is the revelation of the season, with nine goals. In other top Round 16 matches, second-place Werder Bremen travels to Schalke and No. 3 Borussia Dortmund, the defending champion, hosts Kaiserslautern, which is fighting to avert relegation and potential financial ruin. Also, on Saturday it's Hertha Berlin vs. Wolfsburg, Nuremberg vs. Energie Cottbus, 1860 Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen and Arminia Bielefeld vs. Hansa Rostock. On Sunday, it's Hamburger SV vs. Bochum and Borussia Moenchengladbach against Hannover 96. In what could be a good omen for Stuttgart, in four victories at home this season, the team scored at least three goals a game. "We want to make the league suspenseful again," Magath said. "I hope Kevin can cause some trouble for Bayern." Another Stuttgart victory coupled with a Bremen win in Schalke would reduce Bayern's lead to three points and make the title race more interesting, especially if Dortmund also wins. A Bayern win would ensure Ottmar Hitzfeld's team of spending the upcoming winter break atop the standings. There are two more rounds until the break. Captain Oliver Kahn is not concerned about the opposition. "I am not really thinking about it, and neither is the team," the star goalkeeper said. "Since we don't have the pressure of the Champions League any more, we want to win every game on the domestic front." "This season, we are not really looking behind very much. We feel strong enough to win all remaining matches," said Kahn, who hasn't conceded a goal in his three last matches. History also speaks for Bremen in its trip to Gelsenkirchen and the noisy Schalke Arena. Schalke has won only one of the last six home matches against Bremen, which is riding a three-game winning streak. Brazilian striker Ailton has five goals in that streak and tops the Bundesliga with 12. There is a curious link between the two clubs. Schalke's coach Frank Neubarth, manager Rudi Assauer and goalkeeper Frank Rost played a total of 652 Bundesliga matches for Bremen. For next-to-last Kaiserslautern, the tough trip to Dortmund comes at a time of growing troubles for the tradition-rich club, which won the last of its four Bundesliga championships just four years ago. The heavily indebted club could face even more trouble if financial irregularities are confirmed in several past transfers of players. Prosecutors are investigating former club leaders and the new management fears that it may have to pay a fine and maybe even back taxes, which would put a virtually unbearable strain on its finances. In the worst-case scenario, Kaiserslautern could lose its professional license and be sent to the ranks of amateur clubs. Kaiserslautern should be encouraged by the fact that it won two of the last three matches at Dortmund.
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