Dutt steels for tough Bayern clash

Werder Bremen coach Robin Dutt is under no illusion about what his side can expect this Saturday when they travel to face title-holders Bayern Munich.

he pressure is mounting on Dutt after one of Bremen's worst starts to a season on record, but he may well be afforded just one more defeat, considering the stature of his side's next opponents.

"They are the best team in the world," Dutt said. "I don't think I have to make anything up by saying that they are the favourites."

Nevertheless, with Bremen propping up the rest of the division after seven matches, Dutt knows his side need to aim for points no matter who they are up against.

"It's not so improbable and impossible to pick up points in Munich," Dutt added at a press conference.

"Maybe on Saturday, we will be Poland (who beat Germany) or Ireland (who drew in Germany). Just look at how Ireland's players never gave up believing, even if they played a few bad passes in a row.

"We've tried to build up the excitement in playing this game because it's got to be a good thing to play against the best of the best and be able to measure up to them.

"We've got nothing to lose, but we've not lost yet either. History is only written when the game is over."

When Saturday's game is over, Bayern will turn their attention to a trip to Rome on Tuesday and Dutt may hope they are already distracted by two intriguing appointments in Italy.

First up, they face unbeaten Roma in the Champions League before, on Wednesday, participating in a private audience with Pope Francis before returning to Munich.

Midfielder Thiago Alcantara will not take part in either event having suffered a setback on his road to recovery this week.

The Spanish midfielder, who has not featured since March, needs another operation on his right knee and will have to wait several more months before making his comeback.