BERLIN, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich hope last season's Bundesliga top scorer Luca Toni will return from injury for Saturday's match at Borussia Dortmund and inject some impetus into the German champions' campaign.
The Bavarians could manage only a draw in their first match
of the season last week at home to Hamburg SV and were clearly
missing the Italy striker, who scored 24 goals in his debut
season but has been sidelined by a calf muscle strain.
'It's looking very good for Luca,' coach Juergen Klinsmann
said on Bayern's website.
'We are hoping he'll be back on board on Saturday and then
things will look a bit different again.'
There was also some positive news about Bayern's French
international midfielder Franck Ribery, who was injured at Euro
2008 but should return to light training at the weekend,
Klinsmann said.
The former Germany coach has had to cope with a raft of
other injuries and midfielder Hamit Altintop and defender Martin
Demichelis were also missing against Hamburg.
'Of course we are lacking the presence on the pitch of these
kinds of people, which in itself commands respect from
opponents,' Klinsmann said. 'But that's the way it is and we
make the best of all situations.'
Bayern looked second best for much of last week's match,
Klinsmann's first Bundesliga game in charge, and were lucky to
claim a point as the visitors twice struck a post.
'We weren't pressing the opposition enough and we have to be
more physical and prevent the crosses coming in,' he said.
Promoted 1899 Hoffenheim pulled off a 3-0 away win over
Energie Cottbus last weekend to finish their first day as a
Bundesliga club on top of the league table.
Hoffenheim were joined by Schalke 04, who beat Hanover 96 by
the same scoreline.
Schalke, third last term, travel to Bremen on Saturday to
play Werder, who pipped them to second place last year and
thumped them 5-1 in the process.
Schalke defender Marcelo Bordon said the significance of
that match should not be exaggerated.
'We were suffering a bit after a difficult Champions League
tie against Barcelona and had a really bad day,' Bordon said on
Schalke's website.
'Apart from that one match, we have often looked really good
against Bremen,' he added.
