Thursday 5th November 2009
Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt Preview
Bayer Leverkusen are beginning to dream about winning the Bundesliga title as a win could move them three points clear at the top.
Up to now, the title has been a taboo word in Leverkusen, but their president Wolfgang Holzhauser has admitted his club is now "hungry" for success.
"Of course that is what we really want," he told the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper.
"We are hungry for a title. Apart from a UEFA and a DFB-Pokal title, we don't have any other and everybody also knows that we have been runners-up many times.
"Therefore, it is only logical that we want to be German champions one day.
"If things go well and teams who we believe to be stronger than us weaken, then we are also capable of playing for a place among the top three."
Leverkusen host Eintracht Frankfurt tomorrow night and a win would take Jupp Heynckes' men four points above second-placed Werder Bremen and guarantee their place at the summit for at least a fortnight, with an international break coming up.
But Holzhauser still sees several sides one step ahead of his in the race for the title, even if the league table does not currently reflect this.
"Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen and Schalke are the title favourites and I said that before the season," he added.
Leverkusen's hopes of winning at the BayArena tomorrow have been boosted with Rene Adler and Sami Hyypia both returning to training after resting with knocks earlier this week.
Frankfurt coach Michael Skibbe, who was in charge of Leverkusen for three years before spending a season in Turkey, has several problems to contend with before he can name his side for tomorrow's match.
"Our treatment room is rather full," he revealed.
"Patrick Ochs won't play due to his broken ribs, Oka Nikolov will give it a try in training and Chris can only take part in light jogging exercises."
Ralf Fahrmann is on standby to replace Nikolov in goal.
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