Whipping boys next for Bayern

BERLIN – Treble winners Bayern Munich gear up for two defining away games with what appears to be an easy Bundesliga date with Wolfsburg tomorrow.

Bayern are unbeaten at home against the surprise 2009 champions, having won 18 of their 19 games with the only draw dating back 12 years.

They clobbered the visitors 6-1 last season, and another success tomorrow would further boost morale ahead of a midweek Champions League date at Manchester City and a Bundesliga game at third-placed Bayer Leverkusen three days later.

Bayern have caught up on 16 points with Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund, who host winless Freiburg tomorrow.

Leverkusen have 15, ahead of home games against fourth-placed Hanover tomorrow, Real Sociedad in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Munich.

Pep Guardiola’s Bayern confirmed their rising form in a 4-1 demolition of Hanover in the second round of the domestic cup on Wednesday, even though they struggled late in the first half and let in a goal.

Claudio Pizarro, Xherdan Shaqiri, Daniel van Buyten and Diego Contento got a rare start as the likes of Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Mario Mandzukic were rested, and Guardiola may ring some more changes tomorrow.

Ninth-placed Wolfsburg suffered a bad blow on Tuesday when Portuguese midfielder Vierinha ruptured the cruciate ligament in his left knee during a 2-0 cup win against second-division Aalen and will be sidelined for months.

Dortmund had to work extra-time before securing their 2-0 cup victory at 1860 Munich and now run into struggling Freiburg. Sapa-DPA