Germany coach Joachim Low has included eight Bayern players in his provisional squad for Euro 2012, the majority of whom are training in the south of France, but they will not be put under pressure to arrive before the weekend as initially planned.

"The tendency is now going towards varying things a little to give them a bit of breathing space," the national team's general manager Oliver Bierhoff said.

"But they should all be here by Saturday or Sunday at the latest."

Bierhoff says he will leave the decision to the players individually when they feel ready to put the Champions League behind them and turn their attention to Euro 2012.

The play-off second leg had to be stopped twice, the second because of a pitch invasion, but eventually the visitor was relegated to the second division after going down 4-3 on aggregate.

Socceroos attacker Nikita Rukavytsya played 72 minutes for relegated Hertha while countryman Robbie Kruse was not in promoted Dusseldorf's squad.

Maximilian Beister gave Fortuna a dream start with a goal inside the first minute, but Anis Ben-Hatira replied with a header in the 22nd minute.

Ben-Hatira was given his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 54th minute and Fortuna did not need long to take advantage with Ranisav Jovanovic putting it 2-1 up five minutes later.

Hertha fans manifested their frustration, interrupting the play as they threw fireworks onto the pitch, and not even an equaliser from Raffael in the 84th minute could appease them as they again disrupted the proceedings, causing seven minutes of stoppage time to be added.

A pitch invasion with a minute still to be played caused a further delay before referee Wolfgang Stark blew the final whistle to bring an end to the drama and seal Fortuna's return to the top flight.

Beister, who will join Hamburg next season and was therefore already certain of a place in the Bundesliga, gave the home side a perfect start with a long-range effort that caught Thomas Kraft cold with less than a minute played.

Hertha responded well and deservedly levelled through Ben-Hatira in the 22nd minute as he headed Ronny's free-kick past Michael Ratajczak.

Hertha's chances of getting the goal which would have levelled the tie were dealt a blow when Ben-Hatira was sent off for a second yellow card in the 54th minute.

Five minutes later, Jovanovic headed Fortuna back in front from Thomas Broker's cross, but the drama was only just beginning.

Adam Matuschyk shot wide of an open goal as he missed the chance to seal Fortuna's return to the top flight, and almost in the next Hertha attack, Otto Rehhagel's side levelled.

Raffael played the ball to the feet of Adrian Ramos inside the penalty area, and he returned the gesture to set up Raffael to give Hertha hope with the equaliser on the night.

Only one goal was now needed to keep Hertha in the top flight, but its fans did not seem to care as they once again threatened to force the game's abandonment as they threw more fireworks onto the pitch.

After a break of several minutes the game restarted with seven minutes of stoppage time announced.

With Dusseldorf fans lining the pitch preparing to invade it at the final whistle, Jovanovic missed the chance to seal the win in the sixth minute of stoppage time when he wasted a one-on-one against Kraft.

Hundreds of fans stormed on to the field of play with one minute of the game still to be played.

The teams were forced to leave the pitch as stewards and police tried to send the fans back into the stands, forcing a delay of 15 minutes while order was restored.

Both sides eventually emerged with Hertha seeming reluctant to return to play out the remaining 60 seconds before another pitch invasion greeted the final whistle, with Dusseldorf returning to the Bundesliga in dramatic circumstances.

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc told German daily Bild that he met the player's agent and Kagawa "will definitely not be extending his contract with us."

The 23-year-old Kagawa has one year left on his contract with the two-time Bundesliga champion.

Zorc indicated Dortmund was ready to negotiate "should offers arrive for Kagawa now."

Dortmund paid nearly $450,000 to Cerezo Osaka for Kagawa in 2010, but his performances over two years in the Bundesliga are likely to command a much higher fee.

The attacking midfielder's 21 goals in 49 league games over two seasons played a large part in helping Dortmund achieve successive titles.

Kicker magazine reported that Kagawa flew with his agent to Manchester on Monday evening.

Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson attended the German Cup final in Berlin, when Kagawa scored one goal and set up another to help Dortmund rout Bayern Munich 5-2 in what may have been his last game for the club.

Bayern faces Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final on Saturday (Sunday AEST) at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

It then hosts Chelsea at Munich's Allianz Arena on May 19 as the Bavarian side looks to lift European football's top domestic title for the first time since 2001.

Schweinsteiger tore ankle ligaments at the start of February and despite making his return a month later, says he still has problems.

"You have days when you notice the problem is still there and not yet fully recovered," said Schweinsteiger.

"The injury is fading away, but there is something still not quite right."

Schweinsteiger has been twice hit by injury this season after breaking his collarbone last November, then damaging ankle ligaments.

As the vice-captain of both Bayern and Germany, Schweinsteiger says he will be fully fit for Euro 2012, which starts on June 8 to be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland.

"We will have a long training camp to prepare, when we can train really well and I'll need that then," said Schweinsteiger.

Dortmund goes into the final looking to complete a league and cup double having retained its Bundesliga title last month, but whatever happens in Berlin, Klopp is likely to have a smile on his face after the full-time whistle.

"If, in the 50% chance the game does not end positively for us, then I can say I will still be celebrating," he said at a press conference.

"We are going to be taking the Bundesliga trophy with us so we will have something in our hands anyway.

"Of course it would be nicer to run around the pitch with both trophies."

Lukasz Piszczek and Robert Lewandowski will be part of those celebrations and Dortmund's general manager Hans Joachim Watzke issued a blunt warning to any clubs looking to prise the sought-after pair away this summer.

"Any club in the world, be it even Real Madrid or Barcelona, who want to make offers for Piszczek and Lewandowski can save themselves the effort because neither of them is on the market," he said.

"They are not available for any price in the world, and I don't think you can rule things out more clearly than that."

Wiese is set to take Starke's place in the Hoffenheim goal next season, but club vice-captain Babbel had been open with him about the deal and he is not taking it personally.

"Our relationship is fine because he was honest to me," he said.

"Of course this is a sad decision for me, but it is not about individual people and Babbel made that clear that he thinks Tim Wiese is great and he made it clear from the very beginning that he would try to bring him to Hoffenheim.

"I have to accept that. He never lied to me or made any illusions, so everything is fine."

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old admitted he is now considering his options, and one of them is to leave Hoffenheim this summer.

"I am open for everything, but one thing is certain - I want to be playing," he told sport1.de.

"I wouldn't be averse to moving abroad either, but I have to be careful with what I say because I still have a contract here with Hoffenheim, even if they have said I can leave.

"My agent is already looking for a new challenge for me."

Starke joined in 2010 and soon became a fan favourite, as well as an important voice in the dressing room.

If he does leave this summer, then he says he will take a lot of fond memories with him.

"It has been a fantastic time for me up to now and it is not over yet," he said.

"We still have a week of training and it is gorgeous in the Hoffenheim area.

"On the field, we have been able to establish ourselves in the Bundesliga and I will certainly take away a great deal of emotions."

The 24-year-old has scored 13 times in 34 appearances for St Pauli this season, although that record was not quite enough to lead the Hamburg-based club back into the top flight after it missed out on a place in the play-off on goal difference to Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Nevertheless, former Werder Bremen player Kruse will be playing Bundesliga football next year after joining Freiburg.

"Max Kruse is a very dangerous attacking midfielder who has already some Bundesliga experience," said Freiburg's director of sport Dirk Dufner.

"To have managed to attract such a coveted young player to Freiburg shows that we remain an attractive destination for talented players."

Freiburg avoided relegation to the second division with a fine second half of the season under the guidance of Christian Streich, who equalled a club record for consecutive games unbeaten before losing to champion Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season.

The 35-year-old former Chelsea player is out of contract at Bayer Leverkusen when the season finishes on May 5, but is not guaranteed to play either at home to Hanover or at Nuremberg on the last day of the season.

He has said he wants to bury the hatchet with Lahm and Loew after his indignation in the wake of the 2010 World Cup.

Ballack was ruled out of South Africa 2010 with an ankle injury, but was later left bitter after he felt excluded from the German camp by Lahm and Loew during a brief visit to Africa during the tournament.

The day he left Africa, Lahm said he wanted to keep the captain's armband, increasing Ballack's indignation, and in June 2011 he was told by Loew he had no future in the Germany team.

Ballack then snubbed the offer of a farewell appearance against Brazil last August, leaving him with 98 appearances for his country in an international career spanning more than a decade.

But with Ballack tipped to finish his career in north America's MLS league next season, the midfielder is offering the peace pipe as his time in the Bundesliga draws to a close.

"In football, you should never say never," he told German sports channel Sport1.

"Time heals wounds. I can put everything into context."

"Certain things can be cleared up."

Loew has said he will speak to Ballack before Euro 2012 starts on June 8, but Ballack says everything can be cleared up with a simple handshake, which he said should have happened before.

"It always depends on how the person in question approaches you or how you do it," said Ballack.

"One could have found a solution in a different way. You will always cross paths, offer your hand and move on."

Ballack's charity needs to be put in context as his status in Germany has fallen sharply since leading his country at the 2006 World Cup, when it came third, and to the final of Euro 2008 final, when it lost to Spain in Vienna.

He crossed swords with Loew in October 2008 when he criticised the coach for not supporting his senior players enough after veteran Torsten Frings was dropped.

Loew had to call Ballack to a meeting in Frankfurt to resolve the matter and Ballack made his last appearance for Germany when he captained Argentina in March 2010 before he was struck by almost back-to-back injuries.

After his Chelsea contract was not renewed he returned to the Bundesliga in July 2010, but played two seasons for Leverkusen without holding down a regular first-team place.

He has made 33 Bundeliga appearances in two years and had a spat with the club after chairman Wolfgang Holzhaeuser said in January the experiment to bring him back to Germany had "failed".

The German FA (DFB) was considering bidding for the competition but after a meeting at its headquarters in Frankfurt it has decided not to do so.

"The thoughts of welcoming the continent's best teams and fans to Germany is very attractive, of course," DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach said in a statement.

"But after staging the World Cup in 2006 and (the Women's World Cup) in 2011, it is only fair to let other countries take on the role of hosts."

The deadline to bid for Euro 2020, which will be the second staging of the competition after France in 2016 to involve 24 nations, is on May 15.

The DFB will now send an official letter to UEFA president Michel Platini confirming it will not be one of the candidates.

The 32-year-old Croatian international has signed a two-year deal with Wolfsburg, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Thursday.

Olic has started in only three league matches for Bayern this season and says he's keen to leave to play regular first team football.

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said Olic's arrival would strengthen the squad, following a disappointing season in which the side will finish in mid-table.

"Ivica is a complete professional. The effort and running he puts in are exemplary," Magath said.

"He has always been a key player in a team. I am convinced he will increase the quality of our team."

Olic, who also played for Hertha Berlin and SV Hamburg, has scored 42 goals in 134 Bundesliga games.

Magath is also reported to be interested in signing Parma's Italy international Sebastian Giovinco.

Kicker magazine said Magath had met the 25-year-old attacking player's adviser to discuss a possible move.

The Spanish side, trailing 2-1 from the first leg, raced into to 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes thanks to a double from Cristiano Ronaldo, but Bayern levelled the tie through Arjen Robben's penalty just before the half-hour mark.

Neither side could then break the deadlock as the game drifted into extra-time and finally penalties and after Ronaldo, Kaka and Sergio Ramos had all missed for the host, Bastian Schweinsteiger rattled home his spot-kick which means Bayern will become the first side to host a Champions League final on its own ground when it faces Chelsea on 19 May.

And Mourinho believes the extra strain put on his players from beating Barca last weekend, whilst Bayern rested a host of players in its 2-1 win over Werder Bremen, proved decisive.

He said, "We deserved to win, mainly because the matches were very even and it is a completely different situation when a team plays for a championship against a side that doesn't.

"I had the same situation when Chelsea played Liverpool in a semi-final. Liverpool were 30 points off the top and played a reserve team at Fulham whilst Chelsea fought every game to win the championship that season.

"If we weren't playing to win the title, we would have had fresher players, but the team were fantastic in terms of their physical condition.

"Barcelona played the Clasico and then two days later lost to Chelsea, this has incredible value.

"You only have to look at the final which will be played between the fifth placed team in England against the second placed team in Germany, both of which used second choice players at the weekend."

However, Mourinho praised his former club for its stout defensive performance against Barca at the Nou Camp the previous day and was scathing of those who criticised its tactics.

"John Terry will be missing but Chelsea are there and that is the most important thing. Chelsea were heroes yesterday.

"People who criticise them know nothing about character, effort and how a team with 10 men can resist physically, mentally and tactically. It reminded me of my own Inter Milan team two years ago.

"The Chelsea fans are fantastic, as are the German fans so I hope they enjoy it and it is a great final, but I hope Chelsea win."

Mourinho also hinted that the disappointment of falling at the semi-final stage for a second consecutive season may encourage him to stay in Madrid.

"I want to win this title with this team. Reaching two semi-finals is not bad but of course we want more and my feelings are that the group still has room for growth.

"I will discuss my ideas with the club of how to move us forward on and off the pitch and if the club think I can contribute something, which I get the feeling they do, then I think I will continue."

Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes was delighted with how his players reacted to falling two goals behind so early on.

He said: "In the first 15 minutes Real were ahead of us. We were 2-0 behind and everyone knows how difficult it is to play in the Bernabeu.

"After this though we dominated, we managed to release the pressure and we improved as the game went on.

"We improved in defence and had opportunities. In 120 minutes we deserved to reach the final."

Heynckes called on UEFA to change the rule which sees players miss the final if they pick up their second yellow card of the competition in the second leg of the semi-final.

David Alaba, Luis Gustavo and Holger Badstuber will all miss the final for the Bavarian side after being booked and with Chelsea also missing four key players, the German coach believes it is time for the governing body to take action.

He explained: "That is a problem with the rules, I feel the rules should be changed.

"It is a shame the final can't be played by the best players both for Chelsea and Bayern.

"The yellows shouldn't be carried forward to the final, these three players have been exceptional for us."

Bastian Schweinsteiger scored the decisive spot-kick after Manuel Neuer had made two stunning saves to deny Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

David Alaba and Mario Gomez had sent Iker Casillas the wrong way to put Bayern in control of the shootout, but Real was handed a lifeline as the Spain captain saved from Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm.

However, after Sergio Ramos had blasted his attempt over the bar, Schweinsteiger was calmness personified as he slammed the ball home to send Bayern into its second final in three years.

Real had erased its 2-1 deficit from the first leg within five minutes as Alaba was somewhat harshly punished for handling Angel Di Maria's shot and Ronaldo slotted home the resulting penalty.

The visitor responded positively though and should have been level within minutes as Alaba nearly made amends for conceding the penalty with a brilliant run and cross but somehow Arjen Robben scuffed the ball over the bar from only yards out.

Franck Ribery was then denied by a brilliant saving challenge from Sami Khedira after Casillas had spilled a Gomez shot from 20 yards, but only 15 minutes had passed when Ronaldo doubled his tally and Madrid's advantage on the evening as he raced on to a brilliant throughball from Mesut Ozil and stroked the ball past Neuer from the edge of the area.

The tie was back on a knife-edge 12 minutes later though as Pepe was penalised for a push on Gomez as he tried to get on the end of Kroos' cross into the box.

Robben had missed a significant penalty in the Bundesliga title decider against Borussia Dortmund a fortnight ago, but the former Real player stepped up again and his spot-kick just sneaked past Casillas who got a hand to the ball.

The chances continued to flow at both ends towards the end of an engrossing 45 minutes as firstly Karim Benzema's curling effort floated just over the bar before Gomez was again found by Kroos but the man who had scored 12 goals in his previous 10 European appearances could not find a way past Casillas.

The Real captain was called into action again in the final action of the first half as he palmed away Robben's free-kick and the visitor came close again right at the start of the second period as Gomez's header from Lahm's cross crept inches wide.

Generally though both sides tightened up significantly in the second half and opportunities were far harder to come by at either end.

Benzema brought a smart save from Neuer before the Frenchman wasted Real's clearest opening after the break as he fired over from the edge of the area after being fed by Ronaldo.

Gomez then had the chance to send Bayern into the final with five minutes remaining of normal time as Robben found him free inside the area but he took too many touches and allowed the Real defence to recover and block his effort.

The home side regained the initiative at the start of extra-time but tiredness seemed to affect its decision making in the final third as Ronaldo dallied to allow Lahm to make a crucial last-ditch challenge before the break and Kaka did likewise when presented with the ball in the area with just eight minutes remaining.

Real had claims for a third penalty of the evening turned down moments later as instead Esteban Granero was booked for going down under pressure from Neuer.

And that decision was to prove vital as Ronaldo, Kaka and Ramos all failed from the spot to hand the German side a place in the final on 19 May.

The Bavarian side takes a 2-1 advantage with it to Spain from the first leg and, while a 0-0 draw would suffice for the visitor to reach the final in its own stadium, few expect Wednesday evening's (Thursday morning AEST) clash to end goalless.

Heynckes is not expecting that either as he prepares for one of the most important nights of the season.

"Tomorrow is going to be spectacular. It is going to be a real treat with everything which belongs in such a football game," he said.

"Just a fortnight ago, people were saying that Barcelona are the be all and end all, but now Real have gone and won in Barcelona.

"It will be a battle of the giants. Both clubs have a great history and I am looking forward to it, and I hope it has a positive outcome for us."

Heynckes expects Real to attack his side, but he is not going to set his side up to build a wall in front of the goal.

Instead, he has promised his team will play its part in the spectacle by remaining faithful to the style of play which has seen it score 71 goals in the Bundesliga and 27 times in Europe.

"We are capable of scoring at the Bernabeu," he said at a press conference in the Spanish capital. "At the same time, we have shown that we don't concede many.

"The first-leg result gives us a small advantage, but Real have amazing goalscoring potential and have scored nearly 150 goals so we will be prepared for that."

David Alaba, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Luiz Gustavo, Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng risk suffering the same fate as Franck Ribery two years ago if they pick up a caution, but Schweinsteiger insists holding back is not an option.

"Sure, we have got to ensure we don't get involved in any scuffles, but you can't really influence that now," he said.

"We have got to get to the final in the first place, so I don't think that will actually be an issue."

Heynckes will not be telling any of his players to take it easy either as he demands total commitment for the crucial encounter.

"You can also go into the tackle without getting a yellow card," he said. "I will be making that clear to my players.

"But then again, you can never rule out getting a yellow card which is undeserved, like David Alaba did."

Alaba should start anyway, even if he is one of the seven players at risk of missing the final.

Star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is also likely to start, although Heynckes would not confirm his inclusion in the starting XI, despite him playing through Bayern's last two league matches and showing signs of having made a full recovery from a troublesome ankle injury.

"Our final training session should give me more of an idea about his condition," Heynckes said. "I will decide then whether he can start."

Arjen Robben, Ribery, Boateng, Badstuber, Mario Gomez and Lahm should all return after being rested in last weekend's 2-1 Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen.

Bayern travels to Madrid with a slender 2-1 advantage from the first leg at Munich's Allianz Arena, which will also host the final on 19 May, and Schweinsteiger, who is back after an ankle injury, says it will score.

"I assume we will score a goal in Madrid. And we will," said Schweinsteiger ahead of the match at Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

"The chance to reach the final in our own stadium is motivation enough for us, but their stadium, with so many spectators and emotions, is sure to influence the game.

"In the first 20 minutes, it will be very intense, that is when we have to hold our composure and not concede a goal.

"A game like this is the highlight of the season, this is what you work hard the whole season for and the chance to play in a game like this motivated me through my injury."

Bayern striker Mario Gomez scored the 90th-minute winner in Munich to give his side a second-leg advantage and Real coach Jose Mourinho says games like this are what being part of football is all about.

Real's 2-1 El Clasico win at arch-rival Barcelona in the Spanish league last weekend keeps it on course to win the La Liga title but Mourinho knows nothing is decided yet.

"We can win two titles, one or none. This is the excitement of football that turns my hair grey," joked the Portuguese coach, who won the 2010 Champions League title at the Bernabeu as Inter Milan coach.

"I see my players excited about this semi-final like my Inter players were two years ago before the semi-final against Barcelona. They just want to win it.

"Bayern are a great team, the coach is good and they have the right to think they are going to play the final.

"I also know what Bayern want to do. If they don't score, they will be out and I think they will score."

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who coached Real to the 1998 Champions League title, said the game will showcase European football.

"On Wednesday night, we will witness the creme de la creme of football games," he said.

"In terms of tradition, both teams are fantastic and for that reason it will be very even.

"I have positive memories from here. It was very difficult to be coach of Madrid back then, just as I am sure it is today.

"I realised after I won the Champions League here just how much of an obsession it was for everyone involved with Madrid and all of their fans.

"Madrid have great attacking potential, but so do my team."

Star attacker Cristiano Ronaldo spoke of the importance of the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu after edging his side closer to its first Spanish league title in four years last weekend with the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Barcelona.

"I hope the Bernabeu gets the first goal. The crowd has to be ready from the minute we go on the pitch because we feel their influence. It's a big match and if we have the crowd's support we'll be full of confidence," he said.

"We know from the first game that Bayern are going to play on the counter-attack and they'll have a lot of respect for us in our own stadium."

After a tight first leg decided in Bayern's favour by a Mario Gomez goal in the 90th minute, every little detail is going to count as these two giants - with 13 European Cups between them - go head to head again.

Victory in the Clasico will lift Madrid as it attempts to reach its first Champions League final since 2002, when it beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at Hampden to lift a record ninth continental crown.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho kept quiet after the Barcelona match, as is his custom of late in league games, perhaps to consider the important question of whether or not to continue with a winning team.

The same eleven that started at the Camp Nou lost in Germany last week, and he has options if he believes three big games in little over a week are too much for some of his players.

Brazilians Kaka and Marcelo and Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain could all be used from the start to freshen things up.

Bayern accepted defeat in its own domestic battle to catch Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga before the first leg with Madrid.

For that reason coach Jupp Heynckes, who led Madrid to its seventh European title in 1997-1998, was able to make eight changes to his team for the 2-1 win at Werder Bremen last weekend.

"Playing every third or fourth day isn't easy, which is why I rotated my squad," said Heynckes, who also coached in Spain at Athletic Bilbao and Tenerife.

"I'm satisfied with our attitude and determination. We deserved the win, it will be morale-boosting, and we go to Madrid full of confidence and belief. We're always capable of scoring away from home so I'm optimistic."

Heynckes will look for inspiration in his club's superior record over Madrid in European Cup semi-finals, with Bayern having won three of the sides' four meetings, including its last clash in 2001.

Madrid's only success was in 2000.

"We know that we have to score once or twice and we can, we have some amazing attacking players. But first we have to be solid at the back and give ourselves the chance to hit on the break," Heynckes added.

One decision Heynckes has to make is whether to play influential midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has struggled with injuries all season.

Thomas Muller, who replaced Schweinsteiger as a substitute in the first leg, agrees with Heynckes' assessment of the team's current form.

"We go to Madrid full of confidence. We know what we're capable of. But we also know we'll have to invest a huge amount if we're to stand our ground there," he said.

A number of players on both sides are under threat of missing the final if they are booked.

For Madrid, Xabi Alonso, Fabio Coentrao, Higuain and Sergio Ramos will all have to be careful while seven Bayern players are on their last warning, including Muller and captain Philipp Lahm.

The German daily reports the France international lashed out at Robben after an argument over a first-half free-kick in the 2-1 semi-final, first-leg win over Real at Munich's Allianz Arena.

Ribery is reported to have struck Robben during the dressing-room altercation and the Dutch winger's face was clearly marked when he later gave a post-match interview.

Bild reports Ribery has been fined and apologised to the Bayern team, which travels to Madrid for the second leg in midweek.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes refused to comment during Friday's press conference before Bayern's Bundesliga game at Werder Bremen, but chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hinted an incident did take place.

"We are not going to comment on things that happen in the changing room, but things are being dealt with internally," he told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

Dortmund plays the late match and if Bayern Munich fails to win earlier at Werder Bremen, Dortmund will be assured of its second consecutive championship before it kicks off at home.

Juergen Klopp's team is eight points ahead of Bayern with three matches to play.

Bayern is likely to be focusing on next week's return leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid, rather than worrying about a match in the Bundesliga where its title hopes are theoretical.

Dortmund defender Neven Subotic says his teammates are not doing the mathematics.

"We are only concentrating on winning. We want to grab the title on our own power. We want to offer the fans a spectacle. Our hunger for success hasn't gone away suddenly," Subotic said.

Dortmund is riding a record 25-match unbeaten run as it gets closer to the title. Last season, it also sealed the title on the 32nd matchday, then as the youngest side in the Bundesliga.

"We've gotten stronger. Each one of us has become better player. We run more, we are cleverer, we know how to save energy," Subotic said.

"And I can promise you, we have not reached our limit. We still have a young team."

One person who could delay title celebrations is Moenchengladbach's star forward Marco Reus, who will be playing for Dortmund next season.

"I don't feel any pressure, I am looking forward to the match because there is much at stake for us," Reus said.

"Dortmund is for me already champion but we want the points because we can still reach third place."

Moenchengladbach is one point behind Schalke and still hoping to clinch a direct spot in next season's Champions League, a remarkable feat for a team that barely escaped relegation last season.

Reus is one of the main reasons Moenchengladbach is that high in the standings and Subotic knows what kind of qualities his future teammate brings.

"It's a big challenge to play against him for every defender. He is like a rocket and I am very pleased that he is joining us. He's got great skills, he's incredibly fast," Subotic said.

Bayern travels to Bremen bolstered by its 2-1 win over Real in the home leg of the Champions League semi-final.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes could decide to rest his top stars as the team prepares for next Wednesday's return leg.

"Obviously Madrid is in the focus," Bayern's defender Holger Badstuber said.

"But we can't allow ourselves a bad performance in Bremen because we need a good dress rehearsal for Wednesday."

Bremen sits eighth and could still earn a place in the Europa League.

At the bottom of the standings, last-place Kaiserslautern visits Hertha Berlin, which is second-last and has eight points more.

A victory for Hertha sends Kaiserslautern down and improves its hopes of moving past Cologne, which has one point more but hosts surging Stuttgart.

Augsburg, four points ahead of Cologne, hosts Schalke on Sunday.

Mainz kicks off the action on Friday against Wolfsburg.

Hannover plays Freiburg on Sunday.

Munich police are reportedly investigating after Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema allegedly had belongings stolen from the dressing room before the semi-final, first leg at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern 1 presenter Stephan Lehmann, who is also the Bayern Munich stadium announcer, appealed to his listeners for a pair of brogues to send to Ronaldo and some were donated by a shoe maker, the radio station told its website.

"We need Bavarian brogues, size 43, for the most expensive footballer in the world," Lehmann said, www.br.de reported.

The package also included a personal note to Ronaldo, telling him he would look 'really snazzy' in the new shoes.

It read: "Dear Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Hospitable people live here in Bavaria. We may steal maypoles, but not shoes. We therefore wanted to replace what you lost. Here are a pair of genuine Bavarian brogues for you. With them you won't be able to score any goals, but you will look really snazzy.

"Kind regards, Stephan Lehmann and the Bayern 1 team."

Madrid lost the game 2-1. The second leg will take place in the Spanish capital next week.

Heynckes wanted to see a reaction from his side after it effectively lost the Bundesliga title in its last two games, and he believes he got it.

"My players showed what I had demanded from them yesterday: lust and hunger for success," he told Sky television.

"I think we more than deserved the win because we played cleverly and intelligently."

Bayern takes a one-goal advantage with it to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST), but the tie is not over yet, according to Real coach Jose Mourinho.

"We don't need any crazy result in the return leg, we can win with a normal result and go through," he said at the post-match press conference.

"I think my team can respond to this game, with our fans behind us."

Mesut Ozil, who brought Real level early in the second half, shares his coach's optimism that the tie is still wide open.

"I think that we will win the return leg," he said. "We are a touch stronger at home.

"We believe in our strength and I am convinced that we will go through.

"We will be coming back to Munich again."

The result was nevertheless disappointing for Real, but Mourinho did not want to dwell on Bayern's first goal, which could have been ruled out for offside against Luiz Gustavo just in front of Iker Casillas.

"I don't want to criticise the referee," he said. "I will just accept his decision, even if it (the goal) should have been ruled out."

Heynckes also admitted that 'similar goals have been ruled out in the past', but destiny wanted Bayern to win, according to its chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"It was an emotional game and Real showed that they are a great side," he said.

"Fortunately, we had luck on our side in the end."

Franck Ribery gave Bayern the lead in the 17th minute of the semi-final first leg, but Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil levelled early in the second half.

Bayern dominated for large parts of the game and found a deserved winner in the last minute through the prolific Gomez, giving it a slender advantage to take to Spain next week.

Madrid had the better of the first 10 minutes, but all it could produce was a shot from Karim Benzema which Manuel Neuer tipped over the crossbar after Bastian Schweinsteiger uncharacteristically gave away possession in midfield.

Bayern responded and took the game to its visitor.

Ribery felt he should have had a penalty when he went to ground under a challenge from Sergio Ramos inside the area, but referee Howard Webb waved play on.

But the France winger was soon celebrating as he rifled Bayern in front with a shot from 10 yards, which only just avoided Luiz Gustavo in an offside position.

The host was looking dangerous every time it came forward, and those attacks were becoming increasingly frequent, with Arjen Robben marauding down the right and Ribery causing confusion in the Madrid defence down the Bayern left.

But it failed to make its pressure count with Gomez's shot turned behind by Iker Casillas just before the break.

And Madrid levelled on the counter-attack eight minutes after the break.

Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have wasted the chance when his tame effort, one-on-one with the keeper, was saved by Neuer.

But Benzema picked up the rebound and took the ball back into the area, playing it across goal to Ronaldo, whose clever pull-back gave Ozil a tap-in from a yard out.

Madrid enjoyed its best spell of the game with Bayern and many of the 66,000 fans in the Allianz Arena becoming increasingly anxious.

The Bavarian side regrouped and soon got back on top of the game, though.

Gomez spurned an excellent chance to put it back in front in the 71st minute when he lifted the ball over the bar from close range after being teed up unwittingly by Sergio Ramos.

Gomez headed straight at Casillas as the host continued to be frustrated in its attempts to find another goal.

Two hopeful penalty claims were waved away by referee Webb as Bayern kept on pressing and the pressure finally paid off in the 90th minute.

Philipp Lahm got to the byline down the right and fired a ball in which Gomez, sliding in, bundled over the line at the near post.

The 41-year-old was discovered in the bathtub of his hotel room in Cologne by his assistant referees on 19 November last year, having slit his own wrists.

After his condition stabilised, Rafati was treated for depression in a hospital near Hannover, but while he will not return to refereeing in the Bundesliga, he revealed that he has made a full recovery.

"I am healthy again," he told the website of German daily Bild, 151 days after his suicide attempt. "I was in a seemingly hopeless situation.

"It was a stroke of luck that I got help in time. I am glad that I survived."

Rafati's suicide bid shocked Germany, two years after national goalkeeper Robert Enke took his life in November 2009 by throwing himself under a commuter train.

Rafati, who is of Iranian origin, says he is planning a three-week vacation in Asia with his girlfriend and is still receiving regular supervision from a depression specialist.

He says he is considering whether to return to his job in a bank and is planning to marry his girlfriend later this year.

Rafati spent six years as a Bundesliga referee, officiating 84 games in Germany's top flight, and was a FIFA-nominated referee between 2008 and 2011.

Just before kick-off, with the Spanish giant preparing for their first-leg clash at Munich's Allianz Arena, a thief stole six pairs of boots and some shirts from Real's dressing room in the stadium.

The website of Spanish sports newspaper Marca claims Cristiano Ronaldo had three pairs of boots stolen while a total of three pairs belonging to either Germany's Mesut Ozil or France's Karim Benzema were also pinched.

Real has already complained to European football's governing body UEFA.

In the previous nine meetings between Real and Bayern in Munich, the German side has recorded eight wins and a single draw in European competition since the teams first met back in 1976.

The last time they clashed in the Champions League five years ago, Bayern won the round-of-16 clash on away goals after it finished 4-4 on aggregate after Bayern's 2-1 win in Munich and Madrid's 3-2 victory in Spain.

But Mourinho says previous records and statistics will mean nothing come kick-off as Real arrives in Munich having scored 107 goals in the Spanish league this season with midfield star Cristiano Ronaldo having netted 41 of them.

"These are historical figures, history doesn't count tomorrow, the match will have nothing to do with what has gone before," said the 49-year-old who once famously dubbed himself 'The Special One' while at Chelsea.

"The results that have gone before don't count. This is a semi-final, everyone wants to get through, you have to have the right motivation.

"Bayern have that as they want to play the final here.

"This is the second time we have been in the semis for two years, so we want to do well too."

Having been denied a place in last season's Champions League final by eventual winner Barcelona, Mourinho wants victory in Munich to set up his side for the return leg at Madrid's Bernabeu on 25 April.

Either Barcelona or Chelsea await in the final which will be hosted at Munich's Allianz Arena on 19 May.

"We have nothing to lose, the only thing we can loss is the Copa del Rey (the Spanish Cup), we can't defend that title anymore and can concentrate on the other competitions," he said with his team four points ahead of Barcelona in La Liga.

"The Spanish League and Champions League are still there for us, so that is what we will focus on and that is what we are going for."

The former Chelsea boss is too street-wise not to pay Bayern Munich due respect and was said his team will need to be wary of the home side bidding to reach the final at its own stadium.

"They are a very strong institution, they are a strong club with great institutional powers. They are a big opponent for us," said Mourinho, who won the 2010 title with Inter Milan when it beat Bayern in the Madrid final.

"They have flair players, who can really show some great talent, but you have to see them as a collective, they have grown as a team.

"(Former Dutch coach) Louis van Gaal was very important for this, he steered them to the final two years ago and they are in the hands of another great coach in Jupp Heynckes.

"They have shown they deserve to be here and will want to reach the final."

With an attacking line boasting the likes of Ronaldo, France's Karim Benzema and Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain, as well as Germany's play-maker Mesut Ozil, Real could be considered favourite to reach the final, but Mourinho refused to be drawn.

"No, everyone has their opinion about who are favourites," he said.

"Some people make Bayern favourites, some people talk about them being our bogey team, we will have to wait and see what happens."

UEFA, Europe's football organising body, has sent out an invitation for Euro 2020 bids, and the matter would be discussed at DFB's executive committee meeting on 27 April, Niersbach said.

The deadline for the 53 member nations to apply to host the tournament has been set for 15 May. UEFA will make a decision by late 2013 or early 2014 on the venue.

Euro 2012 will be held from 8 June to 1 July in Poland and Ukraine. Germany has only hosted the championship once, in 1988.

At the UEFA congress in March, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his country was keen to host Euro 2020 in Istanbul.

Niersbach was elected DFB president in March, putting him in charge of the largest national single sports federation in the world with an estimated 6.7 million members.

Despite suffering a 2-1 reversal in the opening fixture in the Netherlands last week, Valencia was on top form with Jordi Alba and Pablo Hernandez adding to Rami's early brace to wrap up an emphatic 4-0 win on the night, and a 5-2 aggregate success.

Atletico Madrid progressed to the semi-finals for the second time in three seasons as second-half strikes from Adrian Lopez and Radamel Falcao were enough to see off Hannover 4-2 on aggregate.

With the tie finely balanced from the first leg in Madrid last week, the game did not open up until after the break when Adrian spun away from three desperate Hannover challenges to slot home his sixth goal of the competition.

On-loan Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf gave the host hope as he pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining, but Atletico sealed a 2-1 win on the night and its passage into the last four when Falcao rocketed home a volley from the edge of the area five minutes later.

Atletico will now face Valencia in an all-Spanish semi-final.

Athletic Bilbao advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-4 aggregate win over Schalke, although it was tested to the limit at San Mames.

Trailing 4-2 from the quarter-final first leg, Schalke twice took the lead on the night through Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Raul.

But the home side replied with strikes from Ibai Gomez and Markel Susaeta to secure a 2-2 draw which earned it an aggregate victory and a last-four meeting with Sporting.

Cleiton Xavier's second-half penalty miss cost host Metalist Kharkiv dear as Sporting clung on for a 1-1 draw in Ukraine which sent it through to the semi-finals 3-2 on aggregate.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg in Portugal, Sporting extended its lead through Ricky van Wolfswinkel before Jonathan Cristaldo equalised early in the second half.

Metalist blew its big chance of levelling on aggregate in the 63rd minute when Alexandre Xandao fouled Marko Devic in the box, and Xavier rattled his resulting spot-kick at the legs of Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Already leading 2-0 from the first leg, the German giant was always favourite to progress and so it proved as two clinical moments from the Croatian proved sufficient.

Were it not for the heroics of visiting goalkeeper Steve Mandanda it could have been more and, while Bayern will now go on to a likely last-four meeting with Real Madrid, questions are starting to mount over the future of Marseille coach Didier Deschamps.

Comfortably out of the domestic title race and dumped out of the cup by unfancied opposition, Marseille's turgid form has seen his position come under some scrutiny already. The Champions League was perhaps his last hope of salvation, but Bayern put paid to that.

Jerome Boateng set the tone for the host with an early header that whistled just over, before Marseille stirred, with Loic Remy and Jeremy Morel both denied by Manuel Neuer.

Bayern then stepped up and took a 13th-minute lead.

Franck Ribery created the goal, embarking on a looping run around the Marseille defence and then crossing for Olic who, from a potentially offside position, stabbed beyond Mandanda.

Neuer then had to earn his money again as he beat away a Stephane M'bia effort, before Ribery went close with a shot on the turn.

Mandanda then produced a stunning spell of goalkeeping.

First he denied Toni Kroos and then parried a volley from Anatoliy Tymoschuk. Shortly after he made a wonderful save to keep out Olic, before beating away Thomas Muller's bullet header from a corner.

When Kroos then beat Mandanda the woodwork came to his rescue, but he could do nothing to stop Olic's second after 37 minutes.

Mathieu Valbuena carelessly lost possession close to Bayern's corner flag and, as quick as a flash, Ribery and David Alaba launched a length-of-the-field counter-attack that ended with the latter crossing for Olic to convert.

The outstanding Ribery drew a double save out of Mandanda after the restart, and then the equally-impressive Kroos went close when he dragged a shot wide.

Brandao's header could have given Marseille the most fanciful of lifelines but sailed over and from then on, Bayern clicked into cruise control and saw the game out with some ease.

With their team bottom of the northern regional league, Germany's fourth division, a group of fans under the banner "We'll Show You Where The Goal Is!" gathered behind their opponents' net, each armed with a giant arrow.

The trick worked as Magdeburg finally found the back of the net after 558 minutes without a goal when US striker Chris Wright equalised in the 78th minute of its 2-1 defeat at home to Berliner AK 07 last Sunday.

Footage of the humorous prank has already proved a hit with more than a quarter of a million people watching the video, Pfeile (Arrows), on YouTube.

Marseille recently set a dismal club record with seven straight defeats and has scored a meagre five goals in eight games. It faces Bayern without its best goalkeeper and first-choice centre-half, and desperately needs top scorer Loic Remy to shake off a thigh injury.

In sharp contrast to Marseille's slump, Bayern has been tearing opponents apart lately, scoring 22 goals in five games thanks to its mesmerising three-pronged attack of Arjen Robben, Mario Gomez and Franck Ribery.

"Aside from Real Madrid and Barcelona, they're the team that really stands out. We're facing a heavyweight," Marseille midfielder Alou Diarra said. "They are the favourites, but we'll give it everything."

Marseille ended its losing streak with a 1-1 draw away to Nice, but lost defender Souleymane Diawara for the rest of the season to a knee injury. Although Diawara was suspended for the first leg, his absence will also be a blow for the return leg in Munich.

Coach Didier Deschamps must also cope without suspended goalie Steve Mandanda.

His absence couldn't come at a worse time, given Marseille's situation and Mandanda's outstanding form.

In the previous round, the France No. 2's inspirational shot-stopping against Inter Milan at San Siro kept Marseille in the competition. But with quarter-final qualification assured, he gave away a penalty in the dying seconds and got sent off.

Deschamps has to choose between Gennaro Bracigliano, who spilled an easy cross in last week's French Cup quarter-final defeat to semi-professional Quevilly, and Elinton Andrade, who hasn't played since January 2011 and totals just eight games in three years.

Whoever starts may have nightmares about Robben, Gomez and Ribery. With the kind of service Gomez has been getting from each flank, it is little wonder he's scored 10 goals in the competition - two behind Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Gomez scored four when Bayern destroyed Basel 7-0 in the previous round to record the biggest winning margin in the knockout rounds.

Keeping Robben and Ribery quiet stems the supply line to Gomez, but is easier said than done.

"We'll be keeping an eye on Ribery," Diarra said.

Ribery enjoyed two excellent seasons with Marseille before joining Bayern in 2007. Despite being hugely popular with Marseille fans back then, he does not expect a warm welcome.

"(I'm expecting) some jeers, which is normal. That's football," Ribery told sports daily L'Equipe on Tuesday. "The fans liked me and appreciated the contact I had with them. But they're not going to applaud me, either. I play for Bayern now."

The volatile Stade Velodrome crowd has been getting on the players' backs recently, but Ribery knows that can change as quickly as the Mistral wind that blows through Marseille's port, and that they can be a potent force when backing their team.

"The people live football and 60,000 fans will be against us," he said.

Defender Daniel Van Buyten, who played for Marseille from 2001-2004, doesn't think Marseille's lean spell is an indication of a comfortable game for Bayern.

"They're hard to handle at home," Van Buyten said. "Even if they've had a few problems recently, we won't underestimate them."

Marseille is down in ninth place in the French league, meaning it will most likely need to win the Champions League to play in it next season. Still, Deschamps was mightily relieved to even draw last weekend.

"This helps us stem the haemorrhage a bit," he said. "Even if we haven't stopped it completely, at least we've stuck a bandage on it."

His relief mirrors the players' lack of confidence.

Bayern's confidence, however, is soaring, as it dreams of a treble and playing the Champions League final in its stadium on 19 May.

Bayern reached the German Cup final by beating Borussia Monchengladbach on penalties then maintained the pressure on Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 win over Hannover at the weekend.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes started with Gomez on the bench against Hannover because of a minor hip injury, but he scored his league-leading 23rd goal of the season after going on as a substitute.

Doubts remain over midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger's troublesome right ankle.

Gomez needed just 23 minutes at Munich's Allianz Arena to score his four goals in the second-leg Round-of-16 match which put Bayern into Friday's quarter-finals draw and sealed its 7-1 win on aggregate.

He equalled the record set by Croatia's Dado Prso in November 2003 who also needed only 23 minutes to score four times for Monaco against Deportivo La Coruna.

In the Champions League's 20-year history, Gomez is the first German to score four goals in a single game and after scoring his first on 44 minutes, he wrapped up his four-goal haul on 67 minutes.

Gomez joins some famous names who have also scored four goals in a game.

Dutch stars Marco van Basten, for AC Milan in 1992 against IFK Goeteborg, Ruud van Nistelrooy, for Manchester United in 2004 against Sparta Prague, and Lionel Messi, for Barcelona against Arsenal in 2010, are amongst those to score four in a game.

Argentina's Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in a game when he put five past Bayer Leverkusen in the Round-of-16 second-leg clash at the Camp Nou stadium earlier this month in the 7-1 drubbing of the German side.

Mario Gomez scored four times as Bayern won 7-0 at the Allianz Arena to overturn its 1-0 first-leg deficit in style and emphatically book its place in the quarter-finals.

The win followed a 7-1 Bundesliga success over Hoffenheim last weekend, in which Gomez scored a hat-trick, and Heynckes was impressed.

"All credit to my team," he told Bayern's official website. "They picked up seamlessly from last Saturday. During training this week, I sensed that the team were utterly determined to get through, we were totally focused.

"We played top football from the start to the finish. We went out and did what we set out to do: score an early goal. After going a goal up, we were very smart, very calm, and very skilful.

"Our positioning and organisation were very good and we set up camp in their half time and time again. I was very pleased about that.

"Overall, it was a perfect match. The second and third goals came at a psychologically good time (in the 42nd and 44th minutes). Basle were demoralised after that. We showed we wanted to wrap it up and progress to the quarter-finals."

President Uli Hoeness added: "That's the second time the team has shown what they're capable of. Watching that was really enjoyable. The last two games were football at a very high level."

Gomez claimed the last two wins have shown Bayern is now back on form after a difficult start to the year which has left it off the pace in the title race.

He said: "The weekend game against Hoffenheim was important. The basic mood was good, and the fans cheered us on. We put them under pressure from the start, and then we got the early goal.

"All in all, we were outstanding. The biggest plus is that our confidence is back. We have to build on that."

Basel coach Heiko Vogel admitted the scoreline did not flatter Bayern.

"We're gutted, because you never want to lose like that," he said. "But you've also got to say it wasn't undeserved.

"Bayern worked themselves up into a frenzy, and we had nothing with which to resist. We've been knocked out, and I think the margin of victory was deserved.

"We've lost to a Bayern side who were on fire. We've been shown our limits, although we didn't learn anything new."

Despite the emphatic nature of Bayern's progression, Hoeness claimed its Champions League rivals would not be running scared of the German giant.

"They are certainly not going to have any fear because they are world class sides," he told Sky television.

"They are going to show us the necessary respect, but they are certainly not going to have any fear.

"We cannot start talking about the final, even after such a great performance.

"We could get Barcelona, Real Madrid, or maybe AC Milan - they are all the creme de la creme and if you are not in top form against them, then you have no chance."

The German club, whose Allianz Arena will stage the European final in May, had been embarrassed by a 1-0 loss to Basel three weeks ago at St Jakob Park.

But it warmed up with a 7-1 victory over Hoffenheim on the weekend, a match in which Gomez hit three, and the Germany striker went one better against the Swiss league leader, profiting from the superb promptings of team-mates Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, an attacking midfield trident the envy of most coaches in this competition.

Robben netted the first goal, Muller the second, and thereafter it was the Gomez show, until Robben rounded off the scoring with nine minutes remaining. Bayern now has a quarter-final ahead of it, while Basel had a long journey home.

Basel's intentions were clear from the early stages. Once Yann Sommer played a goal-kick square to a defender, it was clear it was in Munich to cling to the ball and to its slender lead.

It failed on both counts emphatically, with Bayern going ahead on precisely the 10-minute mark and building up a 3-0 lead by the interval.

Robben twice had range-setters which brought no reward before opening the scoring with a low blast from 12 yards into the bottom right corner. He reacted sharply to Muller's speculative 25-yard strike taking a wild deflection, and the Basel hands in the air for offside were waved in vain.

Two minutes later and Robben threatened again, coming in off the right flank, with Sommer forced to fingertip his left-footed strike, which was heading for the far corner, away to his right.

Gomez was quick to the ball and crashed a shot which the goalkeeper at his near post palmed down, and the striker soon followed that with a cheeky backheel which again Sommer had to be sharp to keep out.

Muller was next to threaten, his header from Robben's right-wing corner brilliantly saved by Sommer.

Toni Kroos fizzed a 25-yard strike just over the Basel crossbar, before the visitor's Alex Frei sent a half-volley a yard too high.

It was 2-0 after 42 minutes, Robben keeping the ball alive on the right before picking out Muller's near-post run, allowing the midfielder to volley in from eight yards.

Basel was floored when Bayern scored its third two minutes later, Gomez with the three-yard finish after Kroos swept a free-kick across from the left and Holger Badstuber, at the far post, hooked the ball across goal.

Any fading hopes in the Basel camp were put to rest inside five minutes of the second half as Gomez scored his second, this time a classy left-footed volley from Ribery's left-wing cross.

His hat-trick arrived on the hour, with Ribery wending his way past a crowd of would-be tacklers before teeing up a cross for Gomez to nod in almost apologetically from close range.

Basel was frustrated to have a goal ruled out, seemingly for a handball by first-leg match-winner Valentin Stocker.

Gomez had his fourth goal after 65 minutes, Ribery doing the initial damage with a mesmerising run down the left before cutting a pass back for his team-mate to strike a fierce shot into the top right.

Muller made way for substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger, Danijel Pranjic took over from Ribery, and in the 81st minute Robben made it 7-0. Schweinsteiger played the pass, Robben sidestepped Sommer and passed the ball home, before being replaced.

Raul scored the goal on 19 February in a 4-0 win over Bundesliga rival Wolfsburg.

"I'm experiencing wonderful times in the Bundesliga and I'm very proud of the affection shown to me by the German fans," said Raul, who has scored 33 goals since joining Schalke in the northern summer of 2010.

"It's obviously a wonderful gesture to German football as a whole," said Manuel Neukirchner, director of the museum which opens in 2014.

"Obviously these objects will be given a place of honour."

The 34-year-old Spaniard scored 323 goals for Real Madrid, where he started his professional career in 1994, and won the UEFA Champions League three times.

He added another 44 with Spain and 33 with Gelsenkirchen.

The Swiss side, which has already knocked Manchester United out of the competition this season, holds a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, meaning Bayern has to score at least once to keep the tie alive.

But Basel midfielder Granit Xhaka says that is not going to be so easy.

"It is definitely difficult to score against us," he said after Basel opened up a 12-point lead at the top of the Swiss Super League with a 2-0 win over Grasshoppers Zurich.

"Bayern may have scored goals this weekend, but they are not up against Hoffenheim tomorrow, they are up against FC Basel, and they are not going to get any goals then."

Basel's optimism pervades throughout the whole club as it stands on the brink of an historic achievement.

If beating United was not enough, the Swiss champion is hungry for more with coach Heiko Vogel, who learnt his trade as youth team coach at Bayern, setting his sights on a second trip to Munich in 2012.

He would have nothing against appearing in the final on 19 May and believes Bayern is a hurdle his side can and will pass.

"We have nothing to hide from," he is quoted as saying in the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

"We go onto the field without any stress, no matter who we are up against."

The ambitious coach, who has won 14 out of 19 games since taking the command from Thorsten Fink last October, added: "My trophy cabinet is still empty."

The optimism is not confined to Switzerland's northernmost city, though.

On the other side of the border, Germany's last remaining club in the Champions League is eager to keep its dream alive of reaching the final in its own living room.

"Basel is a very important game in terms of our whole season and we have got to go through against them," said Bayern's president Uli Hoeness.

However, there is also a touch of realism in the Bayern camp.

"Basel are not going to make it as easy for us as Hoffenheim did," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

"We know that we have to overturn a 1-0 deficit."

Heynckes is sweating over the fitness of Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben, who both limped out of the Hoffenheim win and will be a doubt right up until kick-off.

Jerome Boateng also failed to last the whole 90 minutes and he too is a doubt.

Basel arrives with only one doubt after Park Joo Ho missed the Grasshoppers game with a calf injury.

Barca had been understated but superior in the first leg in Germany, winning 3-1, and was expected to ease through in the return match.

However, it played with trademark hunger under Pep Guardiola as Messi became the first player to score five in a single Champions League game while substitute Cristian Tello added two in a performance of startling brilliance.

Karim Bellarabi managed a consolation in added time.

Leverkusen had travelled to Catalonia in confident mood after winning its third straight Bundesliga game at the weekend.

A 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich has boosted the club's chances of qualifying for the Champions League again next season, but despite being a heavy underdog to progress to the last eight, it had not fully given up on remaining in the competition a little longer this year.

But it was hanging on in the 10th minute as Barca suddenly burst forward. Messi's run into the box saw him meet Cesc Fabregas' sublime lofted ball and only a sharp reflex save by Bernd Leno stopped it opening the scoring, before Gonzalo Castro blocked Pedro's shot on the rebound.

Xavi tried his luck with a free-kick and Lars Bender had a shot at the other end which Victor Valdes saved relatively easily. Xavi's whipped-in 23rd minute free-kick was nearly nodded in by Gerard Pique but Leno made the left-handed save.

Barca took the lead in the 25th minute as Xavi teamed up with Messi delightfully, the midfielder chipping an inch-perfect ball over the halfway line which Messi collected before producing a cheeky lob over Leno's left shoulder.

Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes had a shot blocked and the contest was essentially over as Messi scored a trademark second three minutes before the break, easily dancing his way inside after receiving Andres Iniesta's pass before producing a left-footed finish to make it 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate.

The second half began as the first ended. Fabregas produced a similar pass to Xavi's for the first goal, lofting the ball over perfectly to leave Leverkusen's high defensive line stranded as Messi took it on before chipping Leno once more in the 49th minute.

Striker Eren Derdiyok showed great strength to hold off Javier Mascherano inside the box only to see his delicate cross-shot come to nothing.

Substitute Tello then made it 4-0 in the 55th minute as he was put through on the left by Fabregas before slotting home right-footed.

Three minutes later the humiliation continued as Messi got his fourth, dinking the ball carefully in off the post.

Debutant Tello got his second just after the hour mark when Leverkusen afforded him a ludicrous amount of space and Dani Alves picked him out with a pinpoint cross to side-foot home.

Messi then made history with his fifth of the night five minutes from time, becoming the first player to score that many in a single game as he bent home a left-footed strike with alarming simplicity to make it 12 goals in seven European appearances this season.

So one-sided was the clash that Guardiola and counterpart Robin Dutt shared a celebratory cuddle when substitute Bellarabi took Rolfes' pass and curled it past Victor Valdes for a stylish consolation in the last minute.

Barca board spokesman Toni Freixa caused a stir at a press conference with his comments about the club's treatment at the hands of officials this season, while Gerard Pique fanned the flames by declaring his sending off against Sporting Gijon was 'pre-meditated'.

The issue has put Barca on collision course with the Spanish football federation (RFEF) but Busquets is clear about the fact that the players' thoughts must be solely on Bayer Leverkusen, which arrives at the Nou Camp with a 3-1 deficit from the first leg on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEDT).

"We want to stop talking about referees. Tomorrow is a very important game and what we want is to talk about football," Busquets said.

"If the club must speak out, we (players) are not the people. We are dedicated to play, nothing more. Discussions, debates...the press do them."

As for Pique, who has found himself at the eye of the refereeing storm, Busquets is confident he is able to put the row behind him.

"Gerard is well focused on the match tomorrow. What happened already happened, and many people have spoken about it. We just think of the Leverkusen game," he said.

Leverkusen travels to Barcelona in confident mood after winning its third straight Bundesliga game at the weekend.

A 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich has boosted the club's chances of qualifying for the Champions League again next season, but despite being a heavy underdog to progress to the last eight, it has not fully given up on remaining in the competition a little longer this year.

The Bundesliga club will be backed by 4,000 fans at the Nou Camp and coach Robin Dutt hopes they return to Germany happy.

"It is great that so many fans will be accompanying us," he said. "Barcelona is definitely worth the trip.

"We go there with self-confidence and will see what we can do with this scoreline."

Stocker was left unmarked to slot the ball between Manuel Neuer's legs in a match where neither defence covered itself in glory.

The first half was breathless with both sides coming close and Basel twice hitting the woodwork but it was the Swiss side which eventually prevailed to take a narrow lead to Munich.

The Bundesliga side raced out of the blocks with Franck Ribery a constant menace in the early minutes.

The France international could have given Bayern an early lead in the third minute when he chested the ball down on the right-hand side of the six-yard box before transferring the ball on to his left foot and unleashing a half-volley which Yans Sommer did well to block.

Bayern was then grateful to Jerome Boateng whose perfectly-timed tackle on Xherdan Shakiri stopped the Switzerland midfielder when he would have done better to have shot first time.

Ribery had another chance to put the visitor ahead in the 12th minute when he received the ball unmarked on the left side of the area. However, rather than shooting across the goalkeeper he chose to aim for the near post allowing Sommer to make the save.

It was a breathless opening to the game with the host also showing as an attacking force.

Marco Streller's flick was pushed over by Neuer, who was rescued by the woodwork moments later when an unmarked Alexsander Dragovic sent a firm header in on goal which hit the keeper on the forearm before coming off the inside of the post with Holger Badstuber clearing off the line.

Just three minutes later Basel hit the woodwork again when Alexander Frei got between two defenders but his first-time left-footed shot hit the bar.

Sommer did well to intercept David Alaba's shot with the ball swerving at the last minute before Ribery unleashed another shot to test the goalkeeper.

The second half showed little of the space both teams had found in attack with the defences far tighter.

Philipp Lahm tested Sommer with a fierce shot from distance which was pushed away for a corner before Mario Gomez was thwarted when he beat the offside trap and attempted to push the ball across the goal but the keeper stood up as the Bayern player shot at him.

Arjen Robben was blocked by Dragovic as he attempted to squirm free in the six-yard box and it was Bayern which was on top.

However, that was before Stocker's intervention with four minutes left.

Jacques Zoua ran from right to left along the edge of the area without any real challenge and passed the ball to Stocker on his left. He had lost his marker and he slotted home through Neuer's legs.

That result saw Bayern fall four points behind Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga, increasing the importance of Wednesday evening's (Thursday morning AEDT) clash in Switzerland as it looks to avoid a repeat of last year's trophyless season.

It also showed Heynckes that there is no such thing as an easy game.

"We will not be underestimating Basel, especially after last Saturday," he said.

"Basel have impressed me with the way they have put together a well-organised side with a good mixture of experienced players, some of whom have played in the Bundesliga, and talented young players who have a big career ahead of them."

One of those players is Xherdan Shaqiri, who has already agreed to join Bayern from Basel in the northern summer.

However, the Switzerland international says he has no point to prove.

"I think I have already impressed them enough," he said. "I am concentrating on playing for FC Basel."

Bayern could do with Shaqiri now as it is currently suffering without Bastian Schweinsteiger, who will also be absent.

David Alaba should take his place again, but Austria's player of the year still lacks the same experience and aura of Bayern and Germany's vice-captain.

"Alaba has shown that we can cover for him to a certain extent, but Bastian is our brains," said Heynckes.

"Schweinsteiger plays a big role for us. When Schweini was 20, he was not as influential as he was when he was 25 either.

"We need to work as a collective and talk more on the field to get back to where we were, and to where we want to be."

Basel coach Heiko Vogel says he is paying no attention to Bayern's recent league results.

"Tomorrow is the Champions League, not the Bundesliga," he said. "We have got to concentrate on our own strengths and not what happened against Freiburg, Stuttgart or Kaiserslautern.

"They have no influence on this game. Tomorrow is Basel against Bayern.

"We are playing a top-quality side and we are going to have to play very well and have the right attitude, but so too must Bayern."

Vogel is without veteran midfielder Scott Chipperfield and Philipp Degen, who both have thigh strains.

After the German host sat deep to frustrate Barca in the first half, Alexis Sanchez's first Champions League goal, scored in the 41st minute, separated the teams at the break.

But Leverkusen came out with a much more positive outlook after the break, levelling through Michal Kadlec and then having several chances before Sanchez's second and a late Lionel Messi strike gave Barca victory.

Leverkusen, hit heavily by injury, set up to defend against a Barcelona side that was missing Xavi.

The result was a fairly drab opening, with a Dani Alves free-kick, sent comfortably over the bar, the sum total of the chances in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

Daniel Schwaab made a fine intervention to prevent Messi nipping in for an easy close-range chance, before Adriano curled a shot well wide from the left channel with openings hard to come by.

Andre Schurrle fluffed Leverkusen's only half-chance of the first 45 minutes, totally miskicking when the ball sat up invitingly on the edge of the area.

Messi was doing his best to wriggle through the Leverkusen defence, but could not get enough power on a shot through Schwaab's legs from a difficult angle.

But the Argentinian was the provider for the opening goal, flicking a pass over the defence that had Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas scampering after it.

Sanchez won the debate between the two and slipped it through the legs of Bernd Leno and into the bottom corner.

With its containment strategy undone, Leverkusen looked much more positive to start the second half, with Manuel Friedrich having an early chance when Carles Puyol's header fell for him at the far post, but he could not stretch far enough to turn it goalwards.

It was level in the 52nd minute as Vedran Corluka was allowed the time to cross from a tight position, standing the ball up for Kadlec to head in.

But parity lasted only four minutes before Sanchez got his second, latching on to a wonderful threaded ball from Fabregas to round the goalkeeper and finish.

Moments later, a defensive mix-up gave Renato Augusto another chance for the host, but his shot was straight at Victor Valdes.

It had another chance to level in the 64th minute when Gonzalo Castro raced onto the ball and powered a low shot at goal, but Valdes used fingertips to push it onto the post.

Messi was the next to find the woodwork, racing in from the right wing and then dinking a shot over the onrushing Leno from a tight angle, only to see it come back off the upright.

Leverkusen introduced Stefan Kiessling from the bench and he almost had an immediate impact, stooping to head Castro's curling cross goalwards and forcing Valdes into a good save on the line.

Leno was then called on to make a fine save and deny Sanchez a hat-trick as he sent a diving header goalwards.

But Barca got what could be a killer third goal two minutes from time, with Messi the creator and finisher as he slipped Dani Alves through and the Brazilian selflessly squared for the Argentinian to find the net.

Both sides are having domestic troubles going into the meeting in Tuesday evening's (Wednesday morning AEDT) UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first-leg match, but it is arguably Barcelona which has more to prove.

A 3-2 loss at Osasuna, coupled with Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Levante, left the defending Spanish champion 10 points behind its bitter rival, which has dropped only eight points all season.

"We'll go to Europe to defend our title," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said.

Leverkusen has problems of its own, having claimed only one win in its last seven games while the club is at odds with midfielder Michael Ballack.

The former Germany captain hasn't played for Leverkusen since managing director Wolfgang Holzhaeuser described his transfer back to the club as a 'failure'.

Leverkusen failed to win any of the three games in which Ballack remained an unused substitute, but any thoughts Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt may have had of giving the 35-year-old a final hurrah on the big stage were dashed on Sunday, when Ballack tore a calf muscle in training.

Ballack's injury is just the latest to affect Dutt's side. Winger Sidney Sam and Switzerland striker Eren Derdiyok were both ruled out with foot injuries, the latter after stepping on broken glass in his bathroom last week.

Leverkusen missed their attacking presence in the 1-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on the weekend, when the side looked anything but inspired.

"On Tuesday, it could be a tick more difficult," Dutt said.

Leverkusen is currently sixth in the Bundesliga.

"We're not dreamers but realists," said Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller. "We want to make sure of the Europa League place and secure international football that way."

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol insisted that the Catalan side was focused on all competitions after enduring only its second loss of the season.

"We'll fight to the end in all three competitions, whoever thinks the opposite is wrong," he warned.

Puyol said the players were 'not machines' that could be connected one day and disconnected the next.

"We have to give everything every game, and we'll do this until the end of the season."

Guardiola spared Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez from Osasuna's frozen pitch with the Champions League game in mind.

Cesc Fabregas made only a late appearance from the bench meaning the visitor will have an almost fully fit squad, apart from the long-term absences of David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay.

Midfielder Sergio Busquets is the main doubt after missing two games but will travel with the team and could be available.

Guardiola has been using a number of reserve players recently, with wingers Isaac Cuenca and Cristian Tello making significant impacts, while midfielder Sergi Roberto started on the weekend alongside Thiago Alcantara.

But all signs point to the return of Xavi and Iniesta, which could help to spark a sub-par Lionel Messi to reach his own lofty heights.

"We've been looking forward to this game for weeks, for the fans and for our young players to play against the world's best team," Voller said. "Of course it's a dream."

Voller, a former Germany striker and coach, said his side would 'of course' attempt to get a positive result against Barcelona.

"But they aren't quite so bad. You look at them sometimes and say, 'Ah, how lovely they play.' For the players it's great to see at first hand how they do it and why they are so good."

The 35-year-old pulled up in training with a torn calf on Sunday and is definitely out of the first-leg match in Leverkusen.

It completed a miserable weekend for Ballack after he was left on the bench for the third consecutive match when Leverkusen lost 1-0 to German league leader Borussia Dortmund.

Ballack won the last of his 98 caps for Germany in March 2010.

His contract expires in June and he's almost certain to leave Leverkusen at season's end after a volatile few weeks which saw the German league club threaten to ban Ballack's agent Michael Becker from its stadium.

Becker fell foul of Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voeller at the start of February after saying Ballack was being treated like a 'pawn' by coach Robin Dutt, who has repeatedly kept the midfielder on the bench.

Becker says Ballack's options at the end of the season include going to play in China, the Middle East or the United States as the ex-Chelsea star brings down the curtain on his career.

Stanislawski joined the club at the start of the season from second-division St. Pauli on a contract that was set to expire in 2014. Hoffenheim said Thursday it was terminated by mutual consent.

Hoffenheim has won only one of its last 10 Bundesliga games.

No successor was immediately named. German media said former Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin coach Marks Babbel was the leading candidate. Babbel was fired by Berlin in December after a dispute with club officials.

"We regard Holger Stanislawski highly as a person and as a competent coach," managing director Ernst Tanner said. "But after a long, constructive talk we came to the conclusion that it was better for all to end the cooperation. The latest results were decisive."

Stanislawski's fate appeared sealed even before the loss to Greuther Fuerth after Hoffenheim's financial backer and de facto chief Dietmar Hopp criticised the team's slumping performances, although the players and the fans seemed be behind the coach.

The charismatic Stanislawski enjoyed a near cult status in St. Pauli in Hamburg, but appeared out of place in provincial Hoffenheim.

Hopp's millions helped Hoffenheim move from the third to the first division in successive seasons and the club topped the Bundesliga halfway into its debut in 2008-09.

But Hoffenheim has since stabilised in the middle of the standings and has not been able to crack the top five permanently. The club currently sits eighth.

Leading striker Vedad Ibisevic left the club in the midseason transfer period, along with several other players.

The payment of two million euros ($A2.45 million) by Bayern was made and repaid in 2003 after heavy investment by the Dortmund board had put the club into dire financial straits.

The loan was accepted by then president Gerd Niebaum and manager Michael Meier.

In March 2005, the club was again in financial trouble and on the verge of bankruptcy as it only just managed to avoid insolvency but corrected its cash situation enough to become German champion last season.

"When they couldn't pay up any more, sometimes even for salaries, we gave them an unsecured loan for a few months," revealed Bayern president Hoeness.

"I'm a big fan of tradition in sport and I don't think that was a bad thing to do."

Dortmund's chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed the Bayern loan to local newspaper the Ruhr Nachrichten.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes has said he does not believe Hoeness' comments are planned to unsettle its Dortmund rival which is top of the league on 43 points with Bayern in second place on 41 points and level with Schalke 04.

"I do not see this as calculated," said Heynckes on Monday at a press conference.

"It was a good few years ago and I think it is a positive thing there is some solidarity in the league."

Dortmund has since turned its finances around and managed to sign Borussia Moenchengladbach's rising star Marco Reus for 17.5 million euros ($A21.46 million) to play for it next season, fighting off competition from Bayern.

Bayern has picked up four points from a possible nine in its last three games and came from behind to draw at Hamburg on Saturday which saw it replaced at the top of the table by Dortmund.

In contrast, Borussia's 2-0 victory at Nuremberg on Friday means it has won all three of its league matches since January.

With Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp insisting Munich will win the title in May, ex-Bayern president Beckenbauer, who both captained and coached Germany to World Cup wins, aimed his message straight at the Borussia boss.

"Listen, forget this overmodesty and hide-and-seek games with the motto 'only Bayern will be German champions'," wrote Beckenbauer in his column in Bild.

"Kloppo, you are the current champions, you are now the league leaders and you are the favourites for the title."

Beckenbauer says Bayern is lacking the "ease" of the first half of the season - the confidence with which players like Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez had going forward.

"This confidence is exactly what Dortmund have rediscovered."

Things are tight at the top of the German table with Dortmund leading with 43 points, Bayern and Schalke are on 41, while Moenchengladbach is fourth with 40.

Dortmund has lost teenage playmaker Mario Goetze for up to two months with a groin injury but Beckenbauer says that could even be an advantage.

"Dortmund are playing with confidence, despite the injury to Mario Goetze and that gives the young team even more confidence," he said.

And while Dortmund is out of the Champions League, Bayern faces FC Basel in the Round of 16 on February 22 and its European campaign is an added distraction.

"The difficult period begins with the added burden of the Champions League, while Dortmund sit comfortably on the sofa, just as they did last season when they won the title," said Beckenbauer.

But Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said it is just a matter of time before his team fires again.

"What we have shown in the last three games doesn't meet the aspiration levels of Bayern Munich," said Heynckes at a press conference on Monday ahead of Bayern's German Cup quarter-final with Stuttgart on Wednesday.

"But it's only a matter of time before we again play successfully and good football again, which is why I am calm and relaxed."

Dortmund hosts Leverkusen on Saturday in the Bundesliga, while Bayern is home to Kaiserslautern.

The idea was put forward by Lorenz Caffier, the conservative CDU interior minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as a way of keeping known hooligans out of grounds.

However the chair of the parliamentary sports committee, Dagmar Freitag, joined fan groups in rejecting the idea.

Freitag told dpa on Friday she believed there was 'no legal basis' for the use of face scans and that Caffier had gone 'over the top'.

German Football League president Reinhard Rauball had already rejected the idea as being inappropriate for the vast majority of fans and not workable for the clubs.

Caffier, who is also chair of Germany's conference of interior ministers, has asked for a viability study for the scanners which could be used by police to compare photos of listed hooligans.

The proposal follows a number of clashes this season in or outside stadiums at German grounds.

Although violence has usually been confined to outside the first division, clashes at a German Cup match between Bundesliga champion Borussia Dortmund and second division Dynamo Dresden in October led to Dresden being barred from next season's competition.

Caffier told dpa his aim was to keep notorious hooligans from getting into stadiums even after they had received stadium bans.

"For me this is only about using modern techniques to reduce the potential danger for the good of the overwhelming majority of spectators," he said.

The former midfielder, who lifted the 1990 World Cup with the then West Germany, has struggled to make his mark as a professional coach since retiring from playing in 2000 and has often said his dream is to coach a German league side.

He was sacked as Bulgaria's national coach last September, after failing to qualify for EURO 2012, and also coached the Hungary national team from early 2004 until the end of 2005.

He has worked with a string of club teams in Austria, Brazil, Serbia and Israel, but all for short periods despite enjoying some success.

Oft ridiculed in the media, Matthaus says the idea of appearing in a six-to-eight part TV series to appear on German channel Vox, is to demonstrate to the German public what he is really like in a docu-soap.

Having been married four times and currently dating Polish underwear model Joanna Tuczynska, 23 years his junior, the former Bayern Munich star enjoyed a glittering playing career and holds the record of 150 appearances for Germany.

He won the inaugural World Player of the Year award in 1991 and played in five World Cup finals, making 25 appearances.

But his private life and four failed marriages have made him an easy target for tabloid newspapers.

"I want to show people how I really am," Matthaus told German daily Bild.

"Most people are only familiar with some of the headlines.

"I think there will be a lot of positive surprises for me."

While the cameras will have access to most aspects of his life, some areas will be off limits.

"The shower and bedroom are taboo and there won't be any sex scenes for sure," he said.

"But the cameras will be with me through all aspects which make up my life: my girlfriend Joanna, my children, my travels and my leisure time."

Hamann had taken up spread betting as a distraction from problems in his personal life but suffered the massive loss on a cricket match between Australia and South Africa.

Writing in his autobiography The Didi Man, which is being serialised in the Daily Mirror, Hamann said: "I was spread betting because it requires more thought and the more my brain was engaged the less I thought about the devastation I was feeling inside.

"That night I bought Australia for £2800 at 340 runs. That meant for every run over 340 you win £2800 but for every run under you lose the same amount.

"Australia collapsed for 237. It is a score I remember well. It cost me £288,400.

"Every wicket felt like a stab in the heart. By the end of the night I felt like I'd been scalped.

"The next day, when I looked at the mess that was me in the mirror, I said 'Didi, things have got to change.'"

Theo Zwanziger, who will leave the post in March, called on gay players 'to have the courage to declare themselves', although he conceded it was surely difficult to acknowledge one's homosexuality within a team.

Zwanziger pointed to the example of Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, who came out years ago.

Speaking at a discussion on the subject organised by the federation, Zwanziger said on Tuesday that society was more understanding than a few years ago for any gays in football willing to out themselves.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm, however, disagrees.

"Football is like being the gladiators in the old times," Lahm said in an interview published on Monday. "The politicians can come out these days, for sure, but they don't have to play in front of 60,000 people every week.

"I don't think that the society is that far ahead that it can accept homosexual players as something normal as in other areas."

Zwanziger said Lahm is a tolerant person 'and if that's how he sees the situation, I am not going to be the one to criticise him'.

No player in Germany's professional leagues has so far acknowledged his homosexuality.

Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger were all on target as coach Jupp Heynckes tested the players he is likely to send onto the field at Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday night after a five-week winter break.

Bayern leads the Bundesliga at the midway stage of the season by three points from Borussia Dortmund and Schalke and four from its next opponent Gladbach.

Elsewhere, Hoffenheim celebrated a 2-1 win at St Pauli with Sejad Salihovic and Ryan Babel on target against the second division side.

It was the first return back to the Millerntor stadium for Hoffenheim coach Holger Stanislawski, who left St Pauli after its relegation last May.

Hoffenheim's first Bundesliga fixture of 2012 comes against Hannover.

The two nations were originally due to meet in 2014, but that date has now been brought forward with the match to take place on February 6 next year, half a century after Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the treaty of friendship between the two nations.

As a result, the friendly between Germany and Italy which was due to take place on that date has been put back to March 2014.

"We were immediately touched by this idea and we made contact with the Italians and the French," said the German Football Association's (DFB) general secretary and designated president Wolfgang Niersbach.

"The fact we were able to change the schedule around so quickly and without any problems demonstrates the good relationship between the three associations."

The re-arranged game will take place in France with the two nations meeting first in Bremen at the end of next month for the first part of a double-header.

The match, played under lights at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi, marked the farewell of India's football hero Baichung Bhutia, who announced his international retirement in August last year after a string of injuries.

The star-studded German outfit was hardly tested during the friendly, which was its final outing before the resumption of the Bundesliga after a four-week winter break.

Jupp Heynckes' troupe currently leads the domestic league after having played 17 games so far.

Bayern has also been in impressive form in the UEFA Champions League, a tournament it is especially keen on, with the final set to take place at its home ground - the Allianz Arena - in May.

The Bavarian side took the lead in the 14th minute through in-form striker Mario Gomez before World Cup Golden Boot winner Thomas Muller slammed in a brace to make it 3-0 for the visitor.

Star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, making a comeback after recovering from a collarbone injury suffered in November, netted neatly two minutes from the half-way mark to round off the scoring.

India, placed a lowly 162 in FIFA rankings, put up a spirited fight but was outclassed.

Part of the proceeds from the game will go towards helping earthquake victims in Sikkim, Bhutia's home state in India's remote northeast region, which was rocked by a 6.9 magnitude quake in September.

Bhutia co-owns and plays for United Sikkim FC in the domestic league.

The Croatian scored both goals as Jupp Heynckes' side continued its preparations for the second half of the season with a win which was marred by an injury to Mario Gomez.

The Germany international left the field early in the game, although his substitution is understood to have been merely a precaution.

While Bayern chose the heat of the Middle East for its training break, Bundesliga rival Werder Bremen will probably be regretting its choice of Turkey as heavy rain and strong winds prevented it from concluding a friendly match.

It was the second day in a row Thomas Schaaf's side has suffered weather-related disruption.

Defending champion Borussia Dortmund is in Spain and it defeated Standard Liege 3-0 with Mohamed Zidan, Neven Subotic and Robert Lewandowski scoring the goals.

Elsewhere, Borussia Monchengladbach defeated league rival Nurnberg 3-2 thanks to a double from new signing Alexander Ring, who was making his debut days after joining the club on an 18-month loan deal.

Schalke eased to a 4-0 win over a military XI in Qatar with Chinedu Obasi making his debut after a move from Hoffenheim, and Freiburg edged out KV Mechelen by a single goal in its first game under the guidance of new coach Christian Streich.

Violence erupted in the stands between fans of fourth division VfB Lubeck and second division team St Pauli on Friday night, prompting organisers to call off the tournament.

Media reports said that 89 people were injured during the fighting, which erupted in the stands, but then moved outside the hall.

About 300 policemen took several hours to gain control of the situation with several being injured in the process.

Organisers said they believed the fighting was pre-planned.

"That was a criminal act, it was prepared. The hooligans were obviously informed ahead of the time," Peter Sander said.

Hamburg turned down an invitation to participate in the tournament which was staged in the Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, citing security concerns.

A St Pauli spokesman said that its fans had not initiated the fighting.

"But we will not become involved in playing the blame-game," Christian Boenig said.

Robert Hoyzer's lawyer told Sport Bild on Wednesday that his client, who was sentenced to 29 months in prison for fraud in 2005, paid 8,400 euros ($10,498) to the DFB as part of an out-of-court settlement.

Hoyzer agreed to pay a monthly sum of 700 euros ($874.84) for 15 years as compensation for damages the federation incurred when the referee manipulated 23 games, mostly in Germany's lower divisions.

Hoyzer was paid by three Croatian brothers, collecting around 600,000 euros ($749,863) for his part in the scandal.

The mastermind of the scheme, Ante Sapina, was also convicted of fraud and given 35 months in prison.

The other brothers, Milan and Filip, received suspended sentences.

Hoyzer admitted a total debt of 750,000 euros ($937,254) to the DFB, which had demanded 1.8 million euros ($2.25 million) in a civil lawsuit before settling for 126,000 euros ($157,459) in 2008.

Under the terms of the settlement, Hoyzer is forbidden from making any personal profit from the case and must turn over any income from possible book deals or movie rights to the federation.

Among the fixed matches was a German Cup game which Hamburg lost 4-2 to SC Paderborn on questionable penalties.

Hamburg was later paid 1.5 million euros ($1.87 million) compensation by the DFB.

Hoyzer served less than half of his sentence, being released 14 months after he was admitted to a Berlin prison in May 2007.

The 20-year-old Ghanian joined City in the northern summer of 2010 and was immediately loaned to Norwegian side Stromsgodset.

Eintracht sports director Bruno Huebner was quoted as saying the club had an option to keep Abu for a further year.

He is expected to join Frankfurt in February after playing for Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from January 21 to February 12.

For the first time since 2004, Zwanziger will not be part of the official Germany party for the trip to Poland and Ukraine.

He will step down from his position as German FA (DFB) president in March but will nevertheless be watching the games and hopes to be entertained, even if it does not culminate in Germany lifting the trophy in Kiev.

"Of course we are all dreaming of being able to win a title again after 1996, but nobody can predict if that will happen," Zwanziger said on the DFB's website.

"There are so many nations at a very high level at a European Championships and it usually comes down to minor things or even a bit of luck.

"For me, success would mean playing beautiful football.

"If we then win the title, that would be even better. The chances aren't bad and I have all of my faith in the work of (coach) Joachim Low, (general manager) Oliver Bierhoff and the whole team."

Wolfgang Niersbach will embark on his first official trip as DFB president next summer and Zwanziger is pleased that he, pending an official election in March, will be replacing him at the helm.

"I think Wolfgang Niersbach is the best candidate," Zwanziger added. "I am glad that the decision of who will succeed me has been made so quickly.

"I have been working with him for 20 years and I am convinced that he will lead the association excellently.

"He will receive my full support."

In an interview published on the German football federation (DFB) website on Monday Zwanziger, who will be vacating his post in March next year, said that of course they were dreaming of winning the title.

"But nobody can say whether we will be able to win the tournament or not.

"At the Euro finals there are many teams that play at the highest level. At times there is just a small thing or a bit of luck that determines whether a team is successful.

"I believe that success is also playing nice football and if the title comes out in the end, all the better," the 66-year-old said.

He said that he had total confidence in Germany coach Joachim Low, manager Oliver Bierhoff and the entire technical team and Germany had good reasons to go into the June 8 and July 1 finals with high expectations.

"The qualifying campaign with 10 victories in 10 matches showed quite clearly how much potential there is in the squad and how much the players can achieve."

Zwanziger is to be replaced by general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach on March 2 and the current president said he believes Niersbach is the best candidate.

The 66-year-old has announced that he will be handing over the reins to his designated successor Wolfgang Niersbach - who is yet to officially receive a majority vote, but whose election is merely a formality - seven months earlier than planned.

Dr Zwanziger and Niersbach both felt that an earlier switchover would be beneficial for the DFB.

"After considering the whole situation, I have reached the conclusion that it is better for the whole DFB and also for me to ensure there is clarity at the head of the Association as quickly as possible," said Dr Zwanziger.

"I had a very open discussion with representatives of the regional and state associations and this served to affirm my view."

An Extraordinary General Meeting will therefore be held in Frankfurt on 2 March with Niersbach to be the only candidate for election.

"With great respect, I welcome this decision by Dr Zwanziger," said Niersbach.

"We agreed on the goal of ensuring a seamless, harmonious transition. I am convinced that we will manage this since we have collaborated closely together for 20 years.

"I would like to express my thanks for the faith shown in me. Ultimately, it will be the ballot of delegates at the meeting which decides (if I am to be elected)."

Zwanziger announced this month that he wanted to quit before his term expires in October 2013. He originally planned to step down next October, but came under pressure to complete the handover before Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

Niersbach is the current DFB general secretary and is expected to run unopposed at a special assembly now called for March 2.

Hertha manager Michael Preetz confirmed Skibbe would be formally presented as coach, subject to final details being agreed and a contract signed.

Skibbe, 46, told the Bild website he had a contract from January 1 until the northern summer of 2014 and would be starting on January 3.

Skibbe, who is currently coach of Turkish side Eskisehrspor, succeeds Markus Babbel who was dismissed last weekend.

He said he would continue to work with co-trainer Rainer Widmayer who led the team in the 3-1 midweek defeat of Kaiserslautern in the last 16 of the German Cup.

According to Bild daily, Hertha will pay Eskisehrspor a fee of 250,000 euros ($A324,528) for Skibbe.

The Spaniard netted his third hat-trick since arriving at the Royal Blues 18 months ago as Schalke moved up to third in the Bundesliga table, leaving the prospect of Champions League football next season open.

That may well be enough to convince Raul to extend his contract, which expires in June, and he says he is just enjoying his football right now and will do all he can for the club, even if he is no longer part of it from next summer.

"I just want to carry on playing over the next five months the way I am playing now," he told Sky television.

"We will just have to see what happens after. My decision will be made in January.

"The important thing is that the team is in great form at the moment and with the club in such a privileged position of being in the league, the Europa League and the DFB-Pokal, in the end it doesn't matter if I continue or not."

Even if Raul were to leave in the summer, he will have made a major impact in his two years with the club.

His goals in the Champions League last season enabled him to become the tournament's all-time top goalscorer while he celebrated DFB-Pokal success in Berlin last May.

This season, he has netted his first ever goal in the Europa League and has found the back of the net a total of 10 times, helping Schalke into third position at the midway stage of the season, just three points behind league leaders Bayern Munich.

And he showed how much it means to him to be part of the Schalke team by pounding the badge on his shirt after completing his hat-trick yesterday.

"That was to thank the fans because I have been accepted so well and I feel so happy here," he explained.

Dortmund finds itself just three points behind Bayern at the turn of the year and Klopp says he could not have asked for anything more than that given the circumstances.

"Thirty-four points - that is the second-best tally for a first half of the season since I have been here, and we have done that with the title weighing us down in our rucksack," he said.

"I would give us top marks for this first half of the season."

According to its general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke, second place is the very best they could have aimed for in the first four months of the season.

And he says his side is now well on course for achieving its goals for the season.

"We are in a fantastic position," he told Liga total television.

"We always said that Bayern Munich will win the league and that is what they think too, so who are we to contradict them?

"But now we must not lean back and relax because we have a tough game on Tuesday."

Dortmund heads to Dusseldorf in the third round of the DFB-Pokal in midweek aiming to book a place in the quarter-finals of the competition and add the cherry on top of a triumphant year.

Miller has been out for almost three months receiving treatment for depression, but Slomka said it was like he had 'never been away' after he made his Hannover debut.

"It was a very special situation for Markus to make his debut today," Slomka told his club's official website.

"I had the feeling in training that he had never been away. He was so well prepared when he returned from 11 weeks away.

"He was in such a good physical condition and had performed well in training and he was very secure and self-confident.

"He was marvellous. I am delighted that it went so well for Markus."

Slomka is now looking forward to discovering his side's reward for reaching the last 32 of the Europa League.

"We will all be sat in front of the television and hoping that we get a good draw, whatever a good draw means," he said.

"We are really looking forward to the draw."

Frankfurt prosecutors said in a statement the probe is directed against "persons unknown for manipulations in the procedures to obtain the FIFA player agent licence."

DFB confirmed the visit but said no search was carried out as the authorities only talked to DFB employees. The DFB said it was not a suspect in the case.

Kicker sports magazine reported a year ago that a correct answers for the licence test were available for $A2,616.60 ahead of the test. As a result, the ruling body FIFA stopped sending the correct answers to the national federations before the test.

Germany international Podolski, who is under contract until 2013, hit a late equaliser for Cologne in its 1-1 draw with Mainz, thus netting his 14th goal of the season and 10th goal in eight league games.

There has been a maelstrom of interest around Podolski in the German media since Schalke revealed its interest in signing him, but the striker effectively ruled out moving to another German club.

"I find it very difficult to imagine a change to another club in the Bundesliga," he told German magazine Sport Bild.

"If I leave Cologne, joining a foreign club appeals to me in any case.

"When I look at the inquiries already received, I am looking to see if the club plays international or Champions League football."

Cologne, sits 10th in the league and seven places behind third-placed Schalke, and is eager to offer Podolski a contract extension during the German league's four-week winter break.

Podolski admits he is becoming frustrated by the barrage of questions about his future and says he imagines playing on a bigger stage.

"Some people only seem to think of me in terms of playing for Cologne," he said.

Having started his career at Cologne, Podolski spent three unfruitful years at Bayern Munich after the 2006 World Cup but returned to the Rhineland club in 2009.

He has been criticised by both Cologne's director of sport Volker Finke and Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp of being inconsistent but he has scored 10 of Cologne's last 14 goals in the Bundesliga.

Schalke is already assured of winning Group J ahead of its final group game and Stevens decided to rest several regulars for the away match in Israel.

Shortly before the team was due to depart, Stevens received a call informing him that his 85-year-old mother was ill and he decided to stay behind.

Schalke's co-coach Seppo Eichkorn will be in charge of the team for the game in Haifa, the club says.

Former Germany goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand is set to play his first game for the Schalke first team after joining it a few weeks ago.

Missing from the Schalke line-up will be players like Raul, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Lewis Holtby and Jermaine Jones, who stayed behind in Germany.

The Germany international still has 18 months left to run on his current deal and he will sit down and discuss a contract extension during the winter break.

However, even if he cannot reach an agreement with Cologne, that does not necessarily mean he will be leaving next summer, even if the club's director of sport Volker Finke suggested he would be sold if he does not commit.

"I am just enjoying my football and I want to be successful and score goals, and if in the end everything is right, then we are all happy, even Hennes the goat (the club's mascot)," he told Sky television.

"I still have one and a half years on my contract and if I decide in one and a half years, then so be it.

"I have not made up my mind yet. One and a half years are a long time for a lot of thoughts."

Podolski, who was on target twice in the 4-0 win over Freiburg, does not think much of Finke's threat either.

"In that case, I would just have to play for the reserves or sit in the stands," he said.

Having a player of Podolski's qualities sitting in the stands each week is not a prospect Cologne coach Stale Solbakken will consider, but he joked that the current alternative of Schalke, who have made their interest in the player official, is no better.

"If Lukas is to leave us, then he can certainly go to a better club than Schalke," he said.

"Lukas is mentally very strong and he knows that the speculation will continue. I am looking forward to seeing which club tries to buy Poldi next week - maybe Barcelona."

Podolski has scored 13 goals so far this season, half of his club's total in the Bundesliga.

Niersbach is the only candidate in the running to replace Zwanziger, who announced he would not stand for re-election in 2013.

Zwanziger, 66, is due to leave his post in October 2012, but he could choose to stand down earlier with the transition to his replacement appearing straightforward.

Niersbach received the backing of DFB's five regional associations and the DFB board at a meeting in Frankfurt.

The 61-year-old, currently the the DFB's general secretary, told www.dfb.de: "I have the utmost respect for this office, I realise what a big step it is for me personally.

"My advantage is that I have been in football for nearly 40 years and the DFB in all its facets for over 20 years.

"I trust myself to meet the task because I feel the broad backing I have."

Zwanziger added: "I am delighted that Wolfgang Niersbach, after intense consideration, agreed to be my successor as president of the German Football Association in October 2012. He has my full support."

Germany national team coach Joachim Loew also welcomed Niersbach's unopposed candidacy, saying: "It is a good decision that Wolfgang Niersbach is the DFB president candidate. I am looking forward to continuing our good cooperation under new circumstances.

"He is a team player with great experience and a pleasant style of leadership."

Valbuena popped up with the clinching strike three minutes from full-time after goals from Loic Remy and Andre Ayew had earlier cancelled out a Jakub Blaszczykowski strike and a Mats Hummels penalty for the host.

With Olympiacos beating Group F winner Arsenal in Greece, only a victory would have sufficed for Marseille, and Valbuena's heroics ensured the Mediterranean club finished just a point behind the Gunners, with Olympiacos forced to settle for a place in the UEFA Europa League.

Bottom side Dortmund started the match knowing that only a victory by at least four goals would give it any chance of reaching the next round, and set about its task brightly in the opening period.

It made the breakthrough midway through the first half when Sebastian Kehl's header was touched off by Robert Lewandowski for Blaszczykowski to drill home a low shot that raised the hopes of the Westfalenstadion faithful.

Lucas Barrios and Lewandowski then went close for Dortmund as the host laid siege to the opposition goal, and its pressure was further rewarded on 32 minutes when Kehl received a blow to the head from the high boot of Stephane Mbia and the referee signalled for a penalty.

Kehl's injury was too bad for him to continue, the skipper replaced by Antonio Da Silva, but Hummels at least made up for Kehl's pains by calmly tucking home the spot-kick beyond Steve Mandanda.

Dortmund was good value for the two-goal lead but its French opponent caught it with a sucker punch right at the end of the half to dent home hopes.

In the fourth minute of injury-time - the bulk of which coming as a result of the injury to Kehl - Morgan Amalfitano produced a great cross from the right flank to which Remy was first to react, stealing in ahead of Lukasz Piszczek to nod into the corner.

Dortmund suffered another blow at the break with the influential Mario Gotze unable to resume after picking up a knock. Ivan Perisic was brought on in his place.

Although the second period saw both sides push forward in search of goals, there was little by way of clear-cut chances, with speculative efforts by Da Silva and Lewandowski the best the host could muster in the opening 20 minutes.

Alou Diarra headed a Amalfitano corner wide on 63 minutes as Marseille almost got back on level terms, while Piszczek flashed a shot wide after 80 minutes as Dortmund's hopes began to look increasingly forlorn.

Dortmund's chances were finally extinguished five minutes from time when Amalfitano's corner was met by Ayew's thumping header into the top-right corner.

Marseille still needed a goal to be sure of reaching the knockout stage, and it arrived just three minutes from the end when Valbuena dribbled into the penalty area from the left and sent a rising shot into the net to book OM's place in the last 16.

The German side was favourite to claim the victory it needed to guarantee top spot in the pool away to the group minnow, but found itself battling to avoid defeat.

Jelle Vossen opened the scoring for Genk on the half-hour and the home side fought hard to hang onto its lead before Derdiyok's continued probing finally paid off with a 79th-minute equaliser.

It had started promisingly for Leverkusen with Gonzalo Castro having a dangerous cross booted clear inside the opening 40 seconds, then Andre Schurrle forcing Genk goalkeeper Laszlo Koteles to parry his free-kick.

Derdiyok was next to chance his luck from long range with a 30-yard free-kick which flashed over the bar, and in the 22nd minute the same player fired a shot from 18 yards which was comfortably saved.

The home fans at the Cristal Arena were willing their side to finish its campaign with a first win and it gave itself a great chance on the half-hour when it scored the opener out of nothing.

Burundi international Dugary Ndabashinze sent in a cross from the right wing which Vossen met in the box with a right-footed volley which flew past Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno into the bottom corner.

It was Genk's first chance of the match and it almost doubled the lead with a second two minutes later, Fabien Camus side-footing wide from six yards from an Anthony Limbombe cross.

Suddenly Genk looked in complete control and it came even closer two minutes later when Jeroen Simaeys got his head on Daniel Tozser's far-post corner and forced Leno to tip over the bar.

The visitor recovered its poise and won a series of corners before the break, Derdiyok firing wide from 12 yards and Sidney Sam also forcing a good save out of Genk keeper Koteles.

Derdiyok missed with a clear header seven minutes into the second half and had an even better chance on the hour when he met Castro's free-kick into the box but could only head over from six yards.

Derdiyok was guilty of shooting wide again in the 67th minute but he finally broke his duck 11 minutes from time when he was fed by Sam on the right side of the penalty area and smashed a low shot into the net.

Leverkusen predictably laid siege to the Genk goal in search of the winner it needed to finish as group winner, with Koteles saving well from Sam and Stefan Kiessling in quick succession.

As the game opened up Thomas Buffel and Elyaniv Barda both forced saves out of Leverkusen keeper Leno, while at the other end Derdiyok blazed wide again from six yards.

Buffel had the last chance for the home side in stoppage-time when his shot was superbly tipped round the post by Leno as the Belgian side held on for a deserved point and Leverkusen had to settle for second spot after Chelsea's 3-0 win over Valencia.

Rummenigge has been outspoken in his criticism of City and its rapid, expensively-funded ascent through the ranks of European football.

The Germany legend has now said City, which recently announced annual losses of £194.9 million ($296.79 million), should be excluded from European competition if it does not conform to UEFA's new Financial Fair Play rules.

Mancini says he is bemused by Rummenigge's attacks and will raise the issue if he sees him at the Etihad Stadium, where City meets Bayern in its final UEFA Champions League Group A match on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEDT).

Mancini said: "I don't understand Rummenigge's behaviour against Manchester City.

"For six months he talks against us every time for Financial Fair Play and he continues to say he hopes Napoli go through to the second stage.

"I don't know what's different with us. I think Manchester City are working for this FFP for the next two years.

"But I don't understand what happening with Rummenigge. Tomorrow I will ask him."

City, which is third in the group, needs to beat already-qualified Bayern to have any hope of progressing to the knockout stage.

Even if it does win, it needs Villarreal to claim its first point of the competition against Napoli to reach the last 16.

Mancini believes it is unfair to single out City, even though its progress in the three years since Sheikh Mansour bought the club has been remarkable.

Although it has struggled in Europe this season, City currently leads the Premier League by five points having won 12 of 14 games and scored 48 goals in the process.

Mancini said: "I think every team is worried about Manchester City because Manchester City in the future could become one of the top clubs in the world.

"But you don't want to see that every time an important man like Rummenigge who is the Bayern Munich chief executive and a representative of a top club in the world, every time he says things against us.

"Because there are other teams in Europe that have a problem with Financial Fair Play, not only Manchester City."

Mancini has also defended his club from further criticism from Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis, who remarked that Sheikh Mansour has treated City like a toy and could get bored.

He also said he could 'feel strange things going on' surrounding his side's game against Villarreal because of the importance of that match to City.

Mancini said: "Fortunately Sheikh Mansour is not Italian because we are the teacher on this, what De Laurentiis said.

"Sheikh Mansour is not Italian and I don't think he is like this.

"He (De Laurentiis) has to respect Villarreal first because I think Villarreal is a serious club and when a team plays Champions League, they play always to win.

"And after, towards Sheikh Mansour because he doesn't know him and Sheikh Mansour is a very good man and I can't think about this stupid situation."

Mancini has been realistic about his side's Champions League prospects since it was beaten at Napoli's San Paolo Stadium a fortnight ago.

He is well aware it could drop into the UEFA Europa League and is prepared to put the campaign down to experience, but he is not giving up hope and thinks City could still be a threat.

He said: "After the draw we knew that it would be a difficult group and I think we made some mistakes in this group.

"But we have another game - never say never. I think we should think only of beating Bayern Munich.

"Afterwards, if we have a good result from Villarreal, it would be good.

"I think that if we go through we will be a problem for the other teams.

"If we win and Napoli don't beat Villarreal, for us it will be an important moment.

"I think we are better than Napoli as a team but Napoli beat us in Naples and if they win in Villarreal they deserve to go through.

"We should accept that."

Boateng spent just a season with City before returning to his native Germany with Bayern Munich in a £12.8 million ($19.47 million) deal.

Since then City has gone on to sweep almost all before it in the Premier League this season.

Although this year's UEFA Champions League campaign has been a difficult experience, City has ambitions to succeed in similar fashion in European competition but Boateng does not rue a missed opportunity.

The 23-year-old, who returns to the Etihad Stadium with Bayern on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEDT), said: "Obviously I'm very happy at Bayern.

"I wouldn't say I regret anything about last season at City.

"I made a lot of friends and it was a good experience for me."

Boateng was thought to be frustrated at being deployed at fullback by City boss Roberto Mancini but the German insists that was not the only reason he left.

He said: "There were other reasons too.

"Obviously I've played at fullback at Bayern too but centre-back is my favourite position.

"I've been asked this question a thousand times but I'm happy at the club, and it really doesn't bother me if I'm played at fullback or centre-back."

Boateng's time at City is remembered for an infamous training ground bust-up with controversial striker Mario Balotelli.

He claims too much was made of that incident and is good friends with Balotelli, who has impressed this term and scored 10 goals.

Boateng said: "It was nothing serious. That sort of thing happens at every club.

"It was a short tussle. We shook hands afterwards.

"I really like him. I hear a lot of stories about him but I know him better and see it a bit differently."

Bayern, which tops Group A and has already qualified for the knockout stage, can eliminate City from the Champions League by avoiding defeat.

City must win and hope Villarreal can secure at least a draw against Napoli to reach the last 16.

Boateng questioned the togetherness of the City squad ahead of the sides' last meeting in September, but feels the club is making good progress under Mancini.

He said: "I wouldn't say they are much different (to last season) but obviously a couple of quality players have been brought in.

"Last season they won the FA Cup and this season they are in the running for the title, although they are not doing so well in the Champions League.

"I think their coach is doing a very good job and the fans will be satisfied with that."

Bayern has travelled to Manchester without former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben and midfielder Toni Kroos, who are both suffering from flu.

Forwards Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez have also been ill but coach Jupp Heynckes is hopeful both will be fit to play.

And Heynckes insists there is no question of his team easing off.

He said: "Tomorrow's a big match between the leaders of their respective leagues - which is always a matter of prestige.

"Then there's the question of the win bonus and the UEFA ratings too, so it's an important match for Bayern."

Bayern famously knocked Manchester United out of the competition in the quarter-finals two seasons ago but has been offered the chance to train at United's Carrington complex before returning home.

Heynckes said: "After the game I like my players to warm down or work on other aspects of their game, and Manchester United have kindly offered us their facilities for that."

Dr Zwanziger, 66, made his announcement at the DFB's end-of-year party, adding that he intends to bring forward elections by leaving the post next October.

"I have prepared this decision for a long time," he told the DFB's website.

"In October next year, I will have held a leading role with the DFB for 20 years and that is a long time.

"In this time, German football has developed and I was always able to contribute to this.

"I just cannot see any particular challenges for me now."

Zwanziger became president of the DFB in 2004, initially sharing the role with Dr Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder and then taking the position alone since September 2006.

It has been a difficult last few years with a match-fixing scandal, a refereeing scandal and a dispute with a journalist, but Zwanziger says he will always look back fondly on his time at the helm.

"Which president has ever been able to host two World Cups in his time?" he asked.

"I am very proud to have been able to improve the international reputation of our association through these tournaments.

"Franz Beckenbauer, Steffi Jones, Horst Schmidt, Wolfgang Niersbach and I - we really were a great team over the years.

"But new people have to come in eventually with new ideas, different plans. That is the only way football and the DFB can carry on developing.

"You just have to know when the time has come to say goodbye and I did not need to judge it by age or on advice, I know when a certain era is over for me and after extending this once already, the time has now finally arrived."

Zwanziger will not be leaving football entirely, though, just moving on to another role in the game.

He was recently voted onto FIFA's executive committee and he will now dedicate more time to world football's governing body.

"I think I can still get a few things moving at FIFA," he said.

"I enjoy my work on the statutes there and if at the end of the day new transparent, democratic structures are formed at FIFA on which a German has worked hard, then that is not bad for the DFB either.

"For this reason, I will be fulfilling my mandate until 2015 with FIFA."

The Hanover-based referee was found by his assistant officials in the bath tub of his hotel room covered in blood only hours before Cologne's Bundesliga fixture with Mainz last weekend.

He was rushed to hospital and was discharged a few days ago.

He is now receiving psychological care and has requested, in a statement made by his solicitor Dr Sven Menke, to be left in "peace and quiet".

"Together with his partner and his family, he has decided to inform the public of his reasons (for attempting to take his life)," read the statement, which has been published by Germany's Bild newspaper.

"Mr Rafati has been diagnosed in recent days by doctors with a form of depression.

"The symptoms first appeared, according to his recollection, around one and a half years ago and they have since grown in intensity.

"Mr Rafati felt a growing pressure to perform combined with the media pressure together with the constant fear of making mistakes, and this was leading to an ever-increasing burden.

"This burden was even making daily routine problems seem insurmountable and he no longer felt able to cope.

"Mr Rafati has decided to go public with the illness and to face up to it. He has checked in for professional treatment to receive therapy for the causes."

The length of the treatment, as with any case of depression, is unforeseeable, but the 41-year-old does hope to return "to normal life" as soon as possible.

And that also means he would like to get back into refereeing.

"Babak Rafati would like to referee again at the end of this therapy," continued the statement.

"He is therefore requesting the peace and quiet which he now needs for his healing process."

The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed the sanction at a meeting after Dresden's appeal against the initial decision to exclude it from the competition was rejected.

The DFB is hoping the move will send out a signal to clubs that misbehaving fans will not be tolerated.

"Football is currently one of the biggest stages of our society and many people are looking for a place or a niche on this stage, and that also means violent people," said Hans E Lorenz, the judge of the DFB's disciplinary panel.

"Never has violence in our stadia been so big as this year.

"Nobody has been killed in our stadia, but if things are to go on like this, it would only be a matter of time."

The game at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion was disrupted several times as fans in the section reserved for visiting fans lit flares and fireworks. Seventeen people were injured and 15 arrests were made.

Dortmund has been fined 8,000 euros for failing to adequately deal with the fans and confiscate the pyrotechnic material outside the ground.

Dresden supporters clashed with police and rival fans at the German Cup second-round match at Borussia Dortmund on October 25.

The match was briefly halted several times when Dresden fans threw firecrackers and flares onto the field.

Dortmund said the troublemakers caused damage estimated at E150,000 ($205,000). The visitors destroyed about 200 seats, damaged kiosks and set toilets on fire. Police arrested 15 people.

Gladbach hosts Cologne on Saturday (AEDT) aware that three points would take it above Bayern Munich into first place - where it could be caught by Dortmund, who hosts Schalke on Sunday.

Bayern is not in action until Monday when it heads to Mainz.

Elsewhere, there is a Baden-Wurttemberg derby between Hoffenheim and Freiburg and a northern Germany derby between Hannover and Hamburg.

But all eyes will be on Cologne and Dortmund for two of the most keenly-contested encounters of the season.

"We are not scared of Gladbach," said Cologne coach Stale Solbakken. "Of course they are in good form, but anything can happen in a derby and we are the home team."

Speaking of the derby which will take place in front of 81,000 fans in Dortmund's Westfalenstadion, Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby said: "No doubt, it is the highlight of the year.

"Everybody is already really looking forward to it and you can see that in training.

"Everybody is talking about Dortmund and for me it is special - it is my first derby and I am really looking forward to it.

"Both sides are high up in the table and a win could take either side to the top, and with over 80,000 watching, any football fan looks forward to this kind of thing."

The stakes will also be high at the Niedersachsenstadion where Hannover will be looking to keep in touch with the top six by inflicting the first defeat on Hamburg since Thorsten Fink took over.

Meanwhile, fifth-placed Werder Bremen hosts Stuttgart on Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen travels to the capital to play Hertha Berlin, Augsburg hosts Wolfsburg and Nurnberg entertains Kaiserslautern.

Van Persie headed home an Alex Song cross just after half-time before adding a second four minutes from time from a Thomas Vermaelen flick-on to ensure Arsenal sealed qualification as champion of Group F with one game to spare.

The Dutchman has now scored 17 goals this season and has racked up 33 goals in 30 games for the calendar year.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp described the 28-year-old's display as 'simply unbelievable' and his opposite number Wenger joined him in singing the striker's praises by saying: "He is in a period where he doesn't have to look for goals. They just come naturally for him, he is always in the right place at the right moment.

"He got two goals tonight from positions where it looks easy but that's only because he understands the game so well.

"At the moment Robin is an exceptional player. He takes advantage of our offensive style. At the moment he is the one who scores all the goals so we hope we can keep him fit and with us for a long time."

Arsenal looked unlikely to grab the win that secured its qualification at the end of the first half as Dortmund piled pressure on the home side but could not convert its chances.

Their cause was not helped by injuries to the impressive Sven Bender and talented teenage midfielder Mario Gotze.

The home side upped its game in the second period and took the lead after Song skipped past three players to deliver a pin-point cross from which Van Persie nodded home.

Wenger was pleased with the Cameroon midfielder's contribution for the first goal.

"For the first goal Song did something exceptional for a defensive midfielder," Wenger said.

"I am pleased for him because we had quite a difficult start in midfield in the first half, but we took over in the second half.

"Overall it was a good game. Dortmund are a good team. They started stronger than us but we were patient and intelligent."

The win marks the latest chapter in a remarkable turnaround in Arsenal's fortunes.

Derided by its own fans after a dismal start to the domestic season, Wenger faced calls for his resignation, but he has since led the London side through a nine-match unbeaten run.

Arsenal was in the midst of its slump in August when it struggled past Udinese to make the group stages of the competition.

The Frenchman has been delighted with the way that Arsenal has turned things around since then, and revelled in the fact that against all the odds his team has become the first English side to make the last 16 ahead of Chelsea and both Manchester sides.

"I am surprised (that we are the first English team to qualify)," Wenger added.

"Manchester United could have qualified last night and of course everyone expects Man City to qualify.

"We were in a difficult group and I am very happy to see where we have come from.

"When we drew Udinese in the qualifier, you couldn't bet exactly that we would go through like we have done so overall I am happy.

"We came through a very difficult period because we were united and we worked hard together."

Klopp, whose team is now bottom of Group F with little chance of qualifying, hailed Van Persie.

"He is one of the best strikers in Europe. He is a great player," the Dortmund boss said.

"I have hardly seen a player who plays so deep in midfield and is still always dangerous in the box. He is simply unbelievable.

"Once the cross was in the air for the first goal it was inevitable that he was going to score. That really hurt us and gave them confidence."

An injury-time strike from Shinji Kagawa restored a little pride for the German side, but Klopp admits it did not earn the right to take anything from the match.

"We pulled one back but we never showed that we would win," he said.

"We tried hard today and the early injuries didn't help, but we deserved to lose."

Winger Florent Malouda claimed the previous night Villas-Boas was not to blame for the Blues' worst start to a campaign since Roman Abramovich bought the club, but the new manager insisted it was his responsibility to arrest the slide.

Failure to do so quickly will test billionaire owner Abramovich's patience to breaking point, with Chelsea having always finished in the Premier League top four and reached the last 16 of the Champions League during the Russian's tenure.

Almost anything that can go wrong is going wrong for the Blues at present, with a Group E defeat to Bayer Leverkusen the latest calamity.

Chelsea was heading for victory until the 73rd minute but conceded a stoppage-time goal to lose 2-1 at the BayArena.

That came after another late defeat to Liverpool, its third loss in four Premier League games.

Villas-Boas acknowledged confidence was low, adding: "But that's when they expect the manager to inspire them.

"That's my job. That's my task, to inspire these people and motivate these people to change our faith.

"The responsibility is mine and it's my task now to inspire and motivate them to take them to a win against Wolves and certainly after to a win against Liverpool in the Carling Cup.

"We have two games at home. We need to get the focus, concentration right, I have to inspire my players and motivate them, and we need our fans behind us in these critical moments."

The result saw Chelsea drop to second in Group E and with Valencia completely overhauling its superior goal difference by beating Genk 7-0, it means Villas-Boas' side must either beat Valencia or keep a clean sheet against it at Stamford Bridge in two weeks' time to guarantee going through.

"We will need Stamford Bridge completely behind us to get the intensity right and the emotions right for the game," Villas-Boas said.

"It's in our hands to qualify. It's a game at Stamford Bridge and we expect to do our job. That's our responsibility and we don't want to let the fans down."

You would not bank on Chelsea on current form, with its defence letting it down yet again.

Villas-Boas insisted it had defended well but for two corner kicks, one which saw Michael Ballack hit the bar and the other which led to the winner.

"We left our back exposed," he said.

"So we need to focus and concentrate on these issues.

"We're all committed to this squad and to these players and we believe a lot in their talent and they believe in us, and we need to find a way out.

"When they go into a series of defeats like we going through now, we get into the details a lot, to try to get them right and we just have to continue to work and believe that the win is close."

Villas-Boas said: "David was feeling very, very dizzy at half-time and sick.

"He decided to continue, to make the effort for the team, but could no longer continue."

The Chelsea boss branded the result 'unfair', adding: "Not good football played by any of the teams, which in the end is a pity.

"But that's not what matters today. What matters is that Leverkusen takes three important points to change the nature of the group."

Leverkusen will expect to win at Genk to top the group, meaning even if Chelsea qualifies, it is almost certain to face one of Europe's giants.

"The most important thing for us at the moment is to qualify and eventually see what happens," Villas-Boas said.

Leverkusen boss Robin Dutt insisted his side deserved the win and was understandably pleased to have secured a place in the knockout stages.

"We had so many chances," he said.

"The lads absolutely deserved to win this game given the passion they showed, and deserved to get through into the last 16.

"This felt more like a final for us.

"You take a bit of risk with your substitutions, and we did that. It worked out.

"We were only lucky in terms of the late goal. This team has shown how well it can do."

The Dutchman, who passed the 30-goal mark for 2011 with a double at Norwich City last weekend, repeated the feat here.

He headed home after an excellent run and cross from Alex Song five minutes into the second half, and then swept home after a flick-on from a corner as the Gunners clinched top spot in Group F.

Arsenal was, though, made to work hard by an industrious German side, which lost playmaker Mario Gotze to injury after less than half-an-hour, and grabbed a stoppage-time consolation through Japan forward Shinji Kagawa.

Jurgen Klopp's team was well organised, having come into the European tie on the back of a 1-0 league win at Bayern Munich, which cut the deficit at the top of the Bundesliga to just two points.

Cheered on by a vocal travelling support of some 8,000, Dortmund - unbeaten in six games, winning five - settled quickly.

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski - a reported target for Liverpool - stretched the Arsenal backline, with Kagawa forcing a low save from Wojciech Szczesny.

It was nearly 20 minutes before the home side mounted a serious attack, with Aaron Ramsey's pass sending Theo Walcott away down the right.

Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller was out quickly to make the block.

There was then a delay after Thomas Vermaelen and Sven Bender collided when they challenged for a 50-50 ball, with the Dortmund midfielder falling awkwardly and eventually needing to be carried off on a stretcher, replaced by Moritz Leitner.

Dortmund was forced into another unplanned change when much-hyped 19-year-old Gotze, who scored the goal that saw off Bayern and who has been linked with a £30 million move to Arsenal, limped off and Croatian Ivan Perisic came on.

Walcott continued to be the main outlet down the right for Arsenal, and he was correctly flagged just offside from Van Persie's pass as he ran through to tap the ball into the net.

The England man turned provider when he drilled in a low ball across the six-yard box, which Weidenfeller palmed away just as Van Persie looked set to pounce.

Dortmund continued where it had left off at the start of the second half, as Per Mertesacker hacked the ball behind for a corner.

However, the Gunners had the lead after 49 minutes.

Song charged down the left, before barging his way through three defenders with no little skill and chipping the ball towards the far post.

Van Persie arrived on cue to send in a downwards header, which Weidenfeller got a hand to, but could not keep out as the frontman made it 16 goals for his season.

After Dortmund rallied, Arsenal had a great chance to double the lead as Ramsey's toe-poke put Gervinho clear.

Although the Cote d'Ivoire forward rounded the goalkeeper, he had allowed covering defender Mats Hummels enough time to knock the ball behind.

As the match entered the final 20 minutes, Gervinho was replaced by on-loan Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun as Wenger looked to protect his side's lead.

Walcott was also withdrawn in the latter stages, giving Abou Diaby the chance to make a welcome return from another frustrating spell on the sidelines.

Van Persie made sure of victory after 87 minutes when he swept home unmarked at the far post after Vermaelen's flick from a corner.

Dortmund gave its excellent supporters a consolation goal when Kagawa shot home from close range in stoppage-time.

With Olympiacos winning in Marseille, the German side mathematically still has something to play for in its final group match, but it most likely faces the prospect of UEFA Europa League football at best.

Arsenal, though, can head to Athens next month safe in the knowledge qualification and crucially top seeding for the last 16 is assured - which means there will, for now at least, be no chance of another clash with the likes of Barcelona.

For the third time on its travels in Group E, the Blues took the lead, Didier Drogba scoring only his second goal of the season shortly after half-time.

But, as against Valencia and Genk, the visitor threw away victory, substitute Eren Derdiyok equalising before Manuel Friedrich completed the comeback in stoppage-time.

Chelsea arrived at the BayArena beset by on- and off-field problems and there was more bad news for the visitor when it emerged Ashley Cole, who had started all of its Premier League and European games this season, had been struck down by an ankle injury.

Jose Bosingwa was recalled as an emergency left-back, while Raul Meireles and Daniel Sturridge came into the side beaten by Liverpool last weekend - but there was still no place for Fernando Torres.

David Luiz was retained at centre-half despite Gary Neville comparing his defending to a 10-year-old PlayStation gamer.

A boisterous home crowd almost had something to celebrate in the 32nd minute.

Former Blues favourite Michael Ballack rose highest to head Gonzalo Castro's corner back acorss goal and against the crossbar, with Ramires on hand to clear.

Groans became whistles minutes later when Stefan Kiessling was booked for dissent and Drogba should have silenced the home fans completely six minutes before the break.

Sturridge, who rose above the general mediocrity, played an inch-perfect throughball and Drogba rounded Bernd Leno before lashing wildly into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Michal Kadlec was cautioned for handball and Juan Mata sent a weak volley straight at Leno after more outstanding work from Sturridge.

Leverkusen was losing its discipline and Ballack became the third home player needlessly booked before half-time.

Chelsea picked up where it had left off and was in front inside three minutes of the restart.

Sturridge floated another fabulous ball in to Drogba, who brilliantly held off Friedrich before turning and rifling left-footed into the bottom corner for only his second goal of the season.

And the striker almost twice laid on a second when his flick-on was headed straight at Leno by Frank Lampard and his pass set up Branislav Ivanovic for a blast also too close to the goalkeeper.

Ivanovic was then carded for a late tackle on Sidney Sam before Leverkusen sent on Andre Schurrle for Daniel Schwaab.

Chelsea had thrown away a lead in both its previous Champions League away games and it went close to doing so again twice in a minute, only for Petr Cech to win the battle of the masked men.

The goalkeeper first tipped Ballack's overhead kick over the bar before producing a brilliant reaction save to repel his former team-mate's close-range volley.

Kiessling should have given Cech no chance with a point-blank header soon after which he somehow sent straight at the Czech as all Chelsea's defensive uncertainty began to resurface.

Sturridge almost settled the nerves with a superb 60-yard run and finish that was closed down by Leno before Mata was withdrawn for Florent Malouda and Luiz soon followed for Alex.

Malouda almost killed the game when he drove into the box but was thwarted by a sprawling save.

That came seconds after Leverkusen made its second change when Derdiyok replaced Kadlec - and it was the striker who levelled 17 minutes from time.

The ball found its way to Sam on the left and his cross drifted over Cech and the entire Chelsea defence, allowing Derdiyok to nod into an empty net.

Drogba was convinced he should have had a penalty when Lars Bender clattered into the back of him and he also sent a volley wide.

But with the final whistle looming, Leverkusen snatched victory, Friedrich leaping superbly to power Castro's corner in off the crossbar.

Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez netted in the opening 23 minutes to give Bayern a flying start and Ribery then wrapped up the scoring with his second after Villarreal had pulled a goal back through Jonathan De Guzman

With Manchester City losing 2-1 at Napoli, Bayern now holds an unassailable five-point lead at the top of the standings

Villarreal, whose cause was not helped by two bad defensive errors for both of Ribery's goals, are still searching for its first point of the group stage.

The German giant came into the match needing only a draw to seal a place in the last 16 but with pride wounded by a 1-0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the league at the weekend - a loss that saw Bayern's lead at the summit cut to two points.

It took Jupp Heynckes' men just two minutes to begin to banish the memory of that loss though as Ribery put the host ahead with a dink over Diego Lopez after good work by Toni Kroos, who had intercepted a terrible pass by Carlos Marchena.

Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Philip Lahm, David Alaba and Ribery then tried their luck as Bayern laid siege to the visitor's goal in the opening stages, and the home side was rewarded with a second goal from Gomez.

Tymoschuk was unlucky not to score himself as his long-range drive came back off the post, but Gomez was in the right place to slot home the rebound to leave Bayern further in control.

Villarreal, which had netted just one goal in losing each of its opening four matches, was already out of contention for a top-two berth but it still had a UEFA Europa League lifeline and it refused to give in at the Allianz Arena.

Borja Valero twice drew good saves from Manuel Neuer before the break, while Hernan Perez also tested the home custodian before the Spanish side pulled a goal back just after half-time.

Left-back Joan Oriol made good progress forward before chipping a ball across the edge of the box which De Guzman dispatched into bottom corner of the net with a blistering volley.

The Yellow Submarine could not make any more inroads, though, and Bayern restored its two-goal lead through Ribery in the 69th minute, and with it secured the victory.

The goal came from another awful mistake by the Villarreal defence, with Bruno Soriano the guilty party this time as his sloppy pass inside his own half was intercepted and Bayern quickly fed the ball out to Ribery, who rounded Lopez before slotting home.

Both the German Football Federation (DFB) and Cologne police have refused to release the reasons behind Rafati's suicide attempt after he was found in the bathtub of his Cologne hotel on Saturday having slashed his wrists.

The 41-year-old was discovered by his assistant referees just hours before he was due to officiate a German league game between Mainz and Cologne, but was released from hospital on Monday and is continuing to receive treatment.

German daily newspaper the Cologne Rundschau reported on Monday that a senior investigator from the Cologne police had said Rafati's attempted suicide was for 'private reasons' not related to football.

In the past, Rafati has on several occasions been voted the Bundesliga's worst referee in a poll of professional players by German football magazine Kicker.

The magazine's CEO has said it is considering doing away with such surveys in future.

"We are considering whether or not in the future to include surveys of Bundesliga players on the question of who is the worst league referee," Kicker chief Klaus Smentek told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

That comes after calls from within German football to cease such negative treatment of referees.

Germany's former World Cup referee Bernd Heynemann, who officiated at France 1998, has said the 'worst referee' polls have to go.

"These polls are not meaningful, the referees have the weakest lobby and so such surveys are a waste of time," he said.

Lawyer Rainer Domberg, a spokesman and ombudsman for Germany's top referees, says the blame culture aimed at football officials has to change.

"Referees need a different culture of recognition," he said.

"In 95 percent of the games that they officiate, their performance is flawless. Referees seem to suffer under a curse they don't deserve."

Robben made a surprise start for Bayern on the weekend when he played for the German league leader in the 1-0 defeat at home to champion Borussia Dortmund.

It was Robben's first match since groin surgery in October, but with midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger injured and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk suspended, coach Jupp Heynckes opted to play the Dutchman for just over 70 minutes.

"Normally you start on the bench after such a long injury break," said Robben.

Tymoshchuk will be available to play against the Spanish side, but Robben wants more game time to help recapture his form.

"I need the rhythm, I need games to get fit and to get back to my level," he said.

"The coach asked me on Friday if I wanted to play from the start and I said, 'let's do it'.

"I have made a few brief appearances, which I don't count, so I would say I have been out for three months.

"It was good to be back on the pitch."

Robben was happy with his performance in a bruising match.

"This was not an easy game with which to start again," said the Dutchman.

"This was something entirely different from training. I am satisfied that I managed to get through the 70 minutes."

Bayern is three points clear at the top of Group A and a win would put it in the knockout stages.

Villarreal is bottom of the table with four defeats from four games, but warmed up for the Bayern clash with a 1-0 win over Real Betis in the Spanish league.

The experienced 41-year-old referee was found by his assistant referees in the bathtub of his Cologne hotel on Saturday afternoon, just a few hours before he was supposed to take charge of the match between Mainz and Cologne.

He had slit his wrists and is being treated in the intensive care unit in a Cologne hospital.

His father, Djalal Rafati, says there was no hint at his son's turmoil and that he had a steady job as a banker and was in a stable relationship.

"He never spoke to me about depression or burn-out. If he had done that, I would have reacted," Djalal Rafati told Cologne newspaper Express.

"He was very happy (being a referee).

"I had had eye surgery a few days before, so I couldn't go to Cologne, that was why I wasn't with him.

"I can't understand why Babak did this."

On Saturday evening, Djalal spoke to his son for the first time since the suicide attempt.

"He just said, 'Dad, forgive me for what I have done' and I replied, 'of course, but now you have to recover first'."

Djalal said he was in contact with his son both on Friday evening and Saturday morning and admitted Babak had been not feeling well on the morning of his suicide attempt.

"He told me he'd call me back later, then hung up, both his girlfriend and her mother waited with me for the call."

Djala said his son was happy in his relationship.

"He had been together with his girlfriend for many years and was happy with her, she does everything for him and is a great woman."

Having first refereed Bundesliga games in 2005, Rafati has been criticised in the past by players and there is an Anti Babak Rafati page on social network site Facebook.

He was removed from Germany's list of FIFA referees, who officiate international games, in September this year and had been voted the worst referee in the Bundesliga three times by German football magazine Kicker.

Having been dropped from Wolfsburg's first team after falling out of favour with coach Felix Magath, the 27-year-old former Germany star was shown a red card on his reserve team debut in a 2-2 draw against St Pauli's second team.

Having joined 2009 German champion Wolfsburg from Leverkusen in January, Helmes made his last Bundesliga appearance at the start of October.

He was relegated to the reserves on Wednesday with Magath insisting: "He can't help us at the moment."

In front of 215 fans in a regional league game, Helmes scored in the 39th minute against St Pauli's reserves, but was sent off just before the final whistle for a dangerous foul.

It was a far cry from his last international appearance for Germany when he scored in the 73rd minute of the 2-2 draw against the Danes in August 2010.

Helmes has a contract at Wolfsburg until 2014 and has played 14 games for Wolves since his arrival, scoring three goals.

Allofs played for Cologne from 1981 to 1987, and the club is reported to be interested in bringing him back to replace outgoing president Wolfgang Overath.

However, Allofs told German tabloid newspaper Bild: "I can clearly reject this speculation. I am speaking exclusively with Werder. This is a matter of honour. There are no other ways of thinking for me."

Allofs did leave open the possibility of leaving Bremen if talks with the club did not reach a successful conclusion though.

"If you end up not coming to an agreement that is another matter. Should it be so that things change, one must evaluate the situation," he added.

The actions of some groups of spectators at recent matches in the Bundesliga, 2.Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal have led to a widespread condemnation of what is seen as an alarming increase in hooliganism.

The German Football Association (DFB) has already signalled its intentions in fighting the problem by suggesting Dynamo Dresden, whose fans recently almost forced their DFB-Pokal game at Borussia Dortmund to be abandoned, be excluded from the competition for a year.

Heavier fines and the threat of staging matches behind closed doors are other suggestions made to counter the increased use of flares inside grounds.

However, Friedrich says the clubs should not be made to pay but rather the culprits must be identified and prevented from attending any game in Germany.

"There are still lots of people intent on being violent who only go to football games to seek violence," he told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

"We need to impose sanctions on them like stadium bans, and the decisive thing is that these bans must then be enforced, and this must happen nationwide."

Friedrich has called a meeting in which the president of the DFB, Dr Theo Zwanziger, and the German Football League president, Dr Reinhard Rauball, will discuss the options for reducing the risk of violence at grounds.

Banning alcohol in and around stadiums is not one of those options, though, according to Friedrich.

"What we do has got to be something that a normal person can understand and if somebody enjoys a beer at a beautiful football game, then that is not a problem," he added.

Loew experimented with a three-man defence and saw his side concede three goals inside the first half to trail 3-1 at the break before strikes from Simon Rolfes and Thomas Muller in second period salvaged a draw for Germany.

Loew conceded that the performance might not have impressed everyone but he nevertheless took encouragement from his team's showing.

"I was very happy, even if I am probably one of the very few to be so," he said.

"There are a lot of positives that I can take. The team showed great morale and I am not dissatisfied.

"Of course we can do certain things better, but we wanted to take a look at a few things today."

The defensive experiment was also useful, according to Loew, who refused to blame his back three for the goals conceded.

"Two of the goals we conceded came from our own corners when all of our defenders were in the opposition penalty area," he said.

"Those goals had nothing to do with our system.

"I tried the three-man defence to test an emergency situation before we actually reach an emergency situation, but we won't play the same tactics against Holland."

Germany's final match of 2011 sees them take on the Dutch in Hamburg.

"We want to end the year on a high against Holland," added Loew on ARD television.

Loew will have Marco Reus and Miroslav Klose available for that game after both missed the trip to the Ukraine with injuries while Manuel Neuer will return in goal after being given a break to allow Ron-Robert Zieler to make his international debut last night.

"You definitely imagine a different debut to this and it is a shame that the first half went the way it did," said Zieler, who made several fine saves in the second half to prevent the Ukraine from adding to the three goals which he could do little about in the first 45 minutes.

"But at least we reacted well after the interval."

Germany plays Ukraine on at Kiev's Olympic Stadium, which will host the Euro 2012 final on July 1 next year, before tackling the Dutch in Hamburg four days later.

Loew has rested captain Philipp Lahm for both games, while vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is out with a broken collarbone.

Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Marco Reus is rated as doubtful after the 22-year-old informed Loew he is suffering from stomach 'flu and will not be able to meet up with the team in Hamburg.

A medical examination by the Gladbach club doctor will determine whether he is fit to play on Friday.

Hanover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler is expected to make his debut in at least one of the games, while Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil is likely to link up with Borussia Dortmund teenage star Mario Goetze in midfield.

Loew is also toying with the idea of playing both strikers Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, a change from his usual pattern of playing with a lone striker, but that will have to wait until the Dutch test.

Klose has been ruled out of the Ukraine match with an inflammation of a tendon in his left knee, which requires him to rest for a few days, but he will join up with the squad on Saturday.

The last time Loew played with two strikers was in the 2-2 draw with the Ivory Coast in November 2009.

"The beginning of the main preparations for Euro 2012 are still a long way off, but we only have three games left before that," said Loew, with Germany also set to host France in a friendly next February.

"We will certainly experiment with tactics and players, but some things are now as automatic for us as a comfortable pair of sneakers.

"For all the ambition we have in terms of getting good results, what I'll find out after these experiments will be very important.

"I'm planning to make a tactical change in one of the games."

Both Marcel Schmelzer of Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg's Dennis Aogo are competing for the left-back position vacated by Lahm, while Bayern's Toni Kroos may be asked to play as the only defensive midfielder.

Germany was the first team to book its place at Euro 2012 through the qualifying groups and finished the campaign with a perfect record of 10 wins from 10 matches.

Beckenbauer told Kicker sports magazine there had been too many negative events recently which have harmed the game and the German football federation (DFB).

"As a result football's reputation in general and the DFB's image in particular has suffered," he said.

According to Spiegel online, some 70 present and former referees are being investigated for suspected tax evasion.

The investigation was dragging on and needed to be cleared up, Beckenbauer said.

Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup with West Germany as both player and coach, also called for firm action against violent fans.

"We cannot have an Italian situation come about," he said.

"In the Serie A, the ultras have at times determined club policies. Such a situation has to be avoided in the Bundesliga."

"I support tough action, hard sanctions and stadium bans."

Beckenbauer meanwhile praised the current national team as the best "for a long time," but said talk of it being the best ever was "over the top."

However, Joachim Loew's national team was playing a more creative game which was "going in the direction shown by Barcelona," he said.

Neuer made a fine save to deny Edmond Kapllani an equaliser in the 83rd minute of Bayern's 2-1 win, but Lehmann was still not fully convinced.

"His technique is questionable," said Lehmann to Sky television.

"He goes to ground quickly and it was a stereotypical movement - he just got lucky to save it.

"It would have been better had he remained on his feet longer."

However, Lehmann still sees plenty of potential in his successor as Germany number one and has predicted a rosy future for the 25-year-old.

"A young goalkeeper can never be so good," added the 42-year-old. "When you are 20, you don't read the game as well as when you are 30.

"In five or six years' time, he will be significantly better. He has certainly improved with Bayern and he is more mature.

"He has great potential because he is a great athlete."

The 27-year-old was stretchered off after 53 minutes of Bayern's 3-2 home win over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League and is expected to undergo an operation on Thursday.

The injury rules Schweinsteiger out of Germany's friendly against Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine in Kiev on 11 November and against the Netherlands in Hamburg four days later.

"Of course, he will be missed as he is an important part of our midfield and was in great shape," admitted Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes after the win over Napoli.

Heynckes refused to say how long Schweinsteiger will be out for.

Bayern cruised to a 3-0 lead at half-time of the clash with Napoli thanks to Mario Gomez's first-half hat-trick.

However the host was left rattled as Argentina defender Federico Fernandez scored the second of two headers with 10 minutes left to set up a tense finale.

The Bavarian side led 3-0 through Mario Gomez's first-half hat-trick. However, Federico Fernandez reduced the home side's lead with his goal before the break and when he scored a second in the 79th minute it sparked a tense finish among the home support as it held on for the win after both sides had a man sent off in the latter stages.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes admitted this week he has started to dream about winning the competition at the Allianz Arena next May and knew a win here would take it one step closer to the goal of contesting the final at its home ground, but more importantly it would put it in control of its own destiny in Group A.

The win did not guarantee Bayern a place in the last 16 but gives it the chance of sealing its passage in the next home game against Villarreal.

Bayern, as expected, made the early running as Luiz Gustavo and Thomas Muller both saw shots blocked.

In the 17th minute its endeavours were rewarded as Gomez showed typical striker's instinct to get on the end of Daniel van Buyten's pass from the right and slot past Morgan De Sanctis from just inside the box.

Napoli looked to respond but was winded by a second Bayern blow. The host broke with speed and when Toni Kroos flew down the left flank and centred for Gomez, the striker made no mistake from close range.

The Italian side had a brief purple patch as Gokhan Inler fired wide but Franck Ribery, Kroos and Gomez all had chances at the other end.

Jerome Boateng's volley forced a save from De Sanctis before Bayern went 3-0 up. Again Kroos was involved, the young winger seeing his shot saved by De Sanctis before Gomez stole in to poke home the loose ball.

Napoli finally woke up and reduced the deficit by half-time, as Fernandez headed home Ezequiel Lavezzi's free-kick in the 45th minute.

Lavezzi had a shot after a quiet opening to the second half and Philip Lahm forced De Sanctis into a smart save.

Camilo Zuniga was sent off for a second booking in the 71st minute before Holger Badstuber went off for Bayern six minutes later.

But 11 minutes from time Napoli pulled another back, Fernandez this time heading Inler's cross down and in.

It was Bayern which ultimately finished strongest, however, as the host took all three points.

Dortmund had started the evening propping up Group F with just one point from its opening three games, but Kevin Grosskreutz's fine early goal settled the contest in its favour and earned it its first win.

The triumph lifts the German champion onto four points, one above Olympiacos and three behind second-placed Marseille.

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc had described the match as its most important of the season in the lead-up and he would have been delighted with the start his side made.

Ivan Perisic could have put Dortmund ahead after just three minutes but fired a good chance over the bar, but the home side need not have worried as four minutes later it took the lead.

Mario Gotze made inroads near the left corner of the area before laying the ball back to Grosskreutz, whose thumping first-time effort from 25 yards out swerved past the diving Balazs Megyeri and into the top corner of the net.

It was a superb strike to break the deadlock, and would turn out to be the match-winning goal.

Olympiacos, which had beaten Dortmund 3-1 at home a fortnight ago, tried to mount a quick response and Kevin Mirallas drew a save out of home goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.

The visitor had an even better opportunity just before the half-hour mark when Ariel Ibagaza's deep free-kick to the far post was chased by Weidenfeller and, when Rafik Djebbour managed to head the ball back across goal, the Dortmund custodian was left out of position.

However, Dortmund escaped as the stretching Francois Modesto was unable to keep his volley on target from close range.

Olof Mellberg also headed another Olympiacos chance wide just before half-time as Dortmund went into the interval with its one-goal lead intact.

The host had a great chance to double the advantage in the 59th minute when a poor back-pass by Jose Holebas was intercepted by Robert Lewandowski just ahead of Megyeri.

Lewandowski was driven wide though and as he attempted to curl his shot into the open net from a narrow angle, his effort hit the near post before flying across the goal.

Mellberg had another headed chance for Olympiacos in the 62nd minute but he was again unable to hit the target.

Olympiacos pushed forward late on in a bid to get something out of the game but the Dortmund defence held firm as the German outfit claimed a vital victory.

The Brazilian struck a little over 10 seconds into the game, with only Roy Makaay quicker with his goal for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in March 2007.

While Leverkusen was initially rocked by such a setback it regrouped and levelled through Stefan Kiessling.

However, the host scored two unanswered second-half goals through Roberto Soldado and Adil Rami to claim a vital win in Group E, which sees it still in third but just one point behind the Bundesliga side and two behind leader Chelsea.

Valencia made an ideal start as Jonas took full advantage of an error by Bernd Leno.

The Leverkusen goalkeeper kicked the ball straight at the Brazilian who slotted home his second Champions League goal.

It was a stunning start and Valencia came forward relentlessly.

It took the Bundesliga side a quarter-of-an-hour to launch a meaningful attack, forcing a corner from which Diego Alves beat out Omer Toprak's header from the six-yard box.

Leverkusen started to come more into the game and its host was forced into a change midway through the half when Ever Banega was carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by Tino Costa after a challenge by Michael Ballack.

Sidney Sam's shot was parried by Alves before Leverkusen's pressure paid off when it drew level after 31 minutes through Kiessling.

Ballack, who had shortly before been booked as he tried to win a penalty, sent in a left-wing cross which Kiessling guided past Alves.

Andre Schurrle then unleashed a shot from 25 yards which Alves tipped over as the German side ended the first half in the ascendancy with Ballack influential.

The game restarted with the same attacking intent from both sides, Soldado shooting over before Schurrle went past his marker in the area but shot wide.

And it was Soldado who scored as Los Che regained the lead midway through the second half. Jeremy Mathieu provided the assist for the striker, who flicked the ball past Leno from close range.

Soon after Schurrle thought he had equalised after he slotted home but he was ruled offside and minutes later Valencia took a 3-1 lead.

Costa sent in a corner which the defender Rami headed home for his first Champions League goal.

Watch Bayern Munich v Napoli LIVE on SBS ONE and streamed LIVE online, Thursday 3 November, 6.30am

The 27-year-old limped out of Bayern's 4-0 home win over Nurnberg in the German league after taking a knock to the muscle.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes initially suggested the Germany star would struggle to be fit to face the Italian side, but although Schweinsteiger sat out training on Monday (AEDT), he is expected to be able to play.

"It's significantly better," Heynckes said when asked about the injury while Schweinsteiger was expected to train with the team again on Tuesday.

Heynckes is also waiting on the fitness of Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten who has a bruised left foot from the win over Nurnberg, but is expected to play.

If the centre-back is ruled out, Germany defender Jerome Boateng can step in to replace him, while Toni Kroos can partner Brazil's Luis Gustavo at the back of Bayern's midfield if Schweinsteiger is not fit.

After wins over Manchester City and Villarreal, plus a draw at Napoli, Bayern has a two-point lead at the top of Group A while the Italian side is second in the table and both sides are unbeaten in their European campaigns so far.

Bayern is eager to claim its ninth straight home win at Munich's Allianz Arena.

It has turned its state-of-the-art stadium into something of a fortress of late as Borussia Moenchngladbach was the last visiting team to score in Munich when it poached a shock 1-0 win back on 7 August.

Since then Bayern has scored 33 goals without reply.

Napoli travels to Munich on the back of a domestic defeat and has captain Paolo Cannavaro suspended.

Lying second in Serie A before kick-off, Walter Mazzarri's men fell 2-1 away to Catania on the weekend and is now five points off leader Juventus in the Italian league.

Despite the defeat, Mazzarri saw enough positive play from his team to be confident in Munich.

"In the second half, despite being a man down we pinned Catania down in their area for long periods," said Mazzarri.

"Football is like this, sometimes things go well and others they go badly but if we keep playing like this they'll mostly go well."

With the likes of Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez left on the bench, Nils Petersen took his chance to shine with two second-half goals.

Thomas Muller, one of the few first-team regulars in the starting XI, put the host in front in the 33rd minute.

The floodgates opened in the second half with David Alaba making it two, four minutes after the break and former Energie Cottbus striker Petersen ended any hopes of a fightback with further strikes in the 53rd and 70th minutes.

Marvin Matip then scored an own goal before Takashi Usami completed the rout in the 90th minute.

Schalke also avoided embarrassment against second division opponents, but left it late before breaking down Karlsruhe.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar broke the deadlock in the 81st minute and Joel Matip sealed an away win two minutes later.

Stuttgart swept to a 3-0 win at home to second tier FSV Frankfurt.

Christoph Hemlein opened the scoring in the fourth minute with Cacau (38) and Ibrahima Traore (89) added further strikes.

Nurnberg won 2-1 at Erzgebirge Aue with all the goals coming in the last half-an-hour.

Alexander Esswein and Julian Wiessmeier put the Bundesliga side two up, Ronny Konig pulling one back for the host.

Hertha Berlin also had to be patient before breaking down Rot-Weiss Essen.

Gustavo Ramos put the visitor in front in the 64th minute before goals from Pierre-Michel Lasogga Nikita Rukavytsya put the result beyond doubt.

Richard Sukuta-Pasu scored a minute before the end of extra-time to give Kaiserslautern a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The other all-Bundesliga tie also went to extra-time with Andreas Ivanschitz's 93rd-minute goal giving Mainz a 1-0 win at Hannover.

Elsewhere, Holstein Kiel beat Duisburg 2-0.

Dortmund won the match 2-0 and advanced to the third round.

Dresden's supporters clashed with police before, during and after the match.

The match was briefly interrupted several times when Dresden fans threw firecrackers and flares onto the field.

The clashes came on the same day that German police reported the number of people injured in violence at games in the two top division had reached a 12-year-high last season.