Jupp Heynckes leads his Schalke 04 charges out against Bayern Munich at the Arena Auf Schalke today aiming to banish the memory of the 7-3 midweek cup defeat by SC Freiburg and get one over on his former club.
Heynckes is held in high esteem at the Olympic Stadium after winning the German championship two years in a row in 1989 and 1990 but there will be no sentiment on offer from visitors Bayern.
"I am looking forward to seeing my old friend Mr Heynckes," said Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness. "Juup will not be getting any points so I will bring some of my sausages for him instead."
If Schalke defend like they did in the 7-3 thrashing by SC Freiburg then Hoeness is likely to be proved correct with overworked goalkeeper Frank Rost pointing out that Bayern are a huge step up from Freiburg.
"Bayern are three levels above Freiburg," Rost warned.
Despite the poor form of Heynckes' team this season history is in their favor with champions Bayern losing their last three matches at the Arena Auf Schalke.
"Bayern are clear favorites but the statistics should give us confidence," Schalke striker Ebbe Sand told German magazine Kicker.
Peruvian marksman Claudio Pizarro believes Munich can break their dismal sequence in Gelsenkirchen, declaring: "You will see the first Bayern victory at the Arena Auf Schalke on Saturday."
One man with added incentive will be Brazilian Ze Roberto who left Real Madrid for Bayer Leverkusen after failing to impress the coach at the time, a certain Juup Heynckes.
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