Schalke's Huntelaar ready to break Neuer's run
Posted Saturday, September 17, 2011 by YAHOO Sport
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar says he is ready to become the first footballer in nearly 11 hours to score past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on his return to Gelsenkirchen on Sunday with Bayern Munich.
Bayern's ex-Schalke captain Neuer has not been beaten after 658 minutes in the last seven games for Munich ahead of Sunday's German league match.
But with four goals in five league games for the Royal Blues, Schalke striker Huntelaar is ready to ruin Neuer's homecoming.
Neuer and the Bayern defence last conceded a goal in any competition in the 1-0 defeat to Moenchengladbach in the German league on August 7, but Huntelaar says he is ready to break the Munich run.
"You can score against any 'keeper, no goalkeeper is a superman," Huntelaar told German daily Bild with Bayern going into the weekend's matches as league leaders.
Having left Schalke last summer for Munich after 14 years, the 25-year-old Neuer can expect a hostile response on his first visit back to Gelsenkirchen with Bayern.
"There will be some applause, but whistles are guaranteed," said Schalke manager Horst Heldt.
Schalke's planned official farewell for Neuer just before the game has been cancelled.
"That would be a provocation for the fans," explained Heldt.
Bayern's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge upped the ante by saying the response of Schalke's fans will show their respect for Neuer.
"It will be a litmus test. We will be able to see if the fans respect Neuer after all he has done for Schalke 04 and he has done a lot!"
But Neuer is ready for a rough reception at his former club.
"The atmosphere will be heated, because the game will be against Bayern and against me," said Neuer.
"But this won't be the first time I have experienced a chorus of whistles."
But Bayern boss Rummenigge is backing Neuer to cope with the jeers and whistles.
"I don't know many players who have such a strong personality as Manuel Neuer," said Rummenigge.
Before Saturday's matches Bayern are top of the German league with Schalke seventh in the table.
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