Bayern Munich focused on Hamburg
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bayern Munich took the first step toward an appearance in the Champions League final in Munich on Wednesday, but turns its focus to the Bundesliga and Hamburg on Saturday ahead of Tuesday's second game against FC Zurich in the playoff round.
Bayern downed Switzerland's FC Zurich, 2-0, at the Allianz Arena - which hosts the 2012 Champions League final in May - and will try to seal its berth in the group stage on the road Tuesday.
But after opening the Bundesliga season with a home defeat to Monchengladbach, Bayern will first try to get its first league win of the season at the Allianz against new defender Jerome Boateng's former club.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Boateng left Hamburg for Manchester City last offseason, but was lured back to Germany by Bayern and has slotted into a starting spot in central defense next to German teammate Holger Badstuber.
"It's important we take all three points at home," Boateng said.
Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes expects to have star wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery available this week, but last season's Bundesliga leading scorer Mario Gomez is doubtful.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Even after the victory over Zurich, in which Bastian Schweinsteiger and Robben scored, Heynckes admitted Bayern still has a lot of improving to do.
"We'll need a much better than average performance," Heynckes said. "We're playing much better football now, and we need to build on that."
Hamburg opened the season with a 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund and tied Hertha Berlin 2-2 last week.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We're going there in the knowledge it'll be a tough match, but with the feeling we can get something from it, provided my team sticks to the tactical plan," Hamburg boss Michael Oenning said.
Dortmund, which won the Bundesliga title last season, failed to build on its opening win over Hamburg as it lost 1-0 to Hoffenheim last weekend, but coach Jurgen Klopp welcomes Marcel Schmelzer and Neven Subotic back for Saturday's home game against Nurnberg.
Nurnberg beat Hertha Berlin in its opener, but lost to Hannover last week.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's a great challenge, but the onus is on us to stay compact and be aggressive both on and off the ball," Nurnberg coach Dieter Hecking said. "BVB aren't unbeatable, we've just got to give 100 percent and be tactically astute throughout the 90 minutes."
Also Saturday, Werder Bremen hosts Freiburg, Stuttgart hosts Bayer Leverkusen, Augsburg hosts Hoffenheim and Cologne hosts Kaiserslautern. On Sunday, two-win Mainz hosts Schalke and two-win Hannover hosts Hertha.
On Friday, Marco Reus scored twice as Monchengladbach continued its undefeated start with a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg that sent it to the top of the standings.