Point Perfect Bayern and Nuremberg Clash in Local Derby

Both Bayern and Nuremberg, who are currently sitting pretty at the top end of the Bundesliga table, have a perfect six points after two opening wins so something has to give in the Bavarian derby.

Werder Bremen, the other team yet to drop any points before Saturday, lost to Schalke 04 in the game of the weekend on Friday night. Schalke's 2-0 win means that the Royal Blues sit on the summit as Bayern and Nuremberg prepare to challenge in the top of the table clash on Saturday.

While double winners Bayern can do no wrong on the domestic front they were hammered 4-0 in a friendly by Spanish champions Barcelona on Wednesday to crush confidence ahead of the Nuremberg game.

"The game showed us where we are at international level and at the moment we are far behind Barcelona," concluded manager Felix Magath.

In the German top-flight Bayern - winners of seven titles in the last 10 seasons - are way ahead of the rest and hope to make it a perfect nine points with victory over Nuremberg.

Nuremberg no flash-in-the-pan

Nuremberg finished last season like an express train and have started this season with back-to-back wins to leave their coach Hans Meyer in high spirits. "Six points and no goals conceded. Who is going to stop us?" asked Meyer somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

"The fact that this derby is being taken more seriously is credit for what my players have achieved."

Nevertheless Bayern go into the match as strong favorites despite the Barcelona defeat and disruptions off the field.

England international Owen Hargreaves continues to anger the club with his angling for a move to Manchester United who have lodged a 25 million euro bid. Hargreaves has sat out the last two matches with a supposed bout of flu.

Doll hopes for no Euro hang-over

SV Hamburg, an outside title shot, are counting the cash after joining Bremen and Bayern in the Champions League after a 1-1 draw in Osasuna on Wednesday helped them qualify on away goals.

"You could see the emotions afterwards and there were a few tears rolling down the cheeks," manager Thomas Doll said. "We have Hertha Berlin this Sunday and it goes without saying that the players are raring to go."

Doll apparently let his players paint the town red after the win in Spain and will hope they are not too hung-over for the Hertha Berlin game on Sunday as they search for their first win of the campaign.

Saturday:

Bayern Munich v FC Nuremberg,

Bayer Leverkusen v VfL Wolfsburg,

VfB Stuttgart v Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Monchengladbach v Arminia Bielefeld

Hannover v Alemannia Aachen

VfL Bochum v Energie Cottbus

Sunday:

SV Hamburg v Hertha Berlin

Mainz 05 v Eintracht Frankfurt