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BAYERN MUNICH

Bundesliga: Kovac only focused on Bayern ahead of title run-in

Just four games remain in the Bundesliga season and Niko Kovac thinks Bayern Munich need maximum points to finish first.

Bundesliga: Kovac only focused on Bayern ahead of title run-in
Bongarts

Niko Kovac believes Bayern Munich must win each of their final four Bundesliga fixtures to pip Borussia Dortmund to the title.

The leaders hold a one-point advantage at the top heading into Saturday's trip to relegation-threatened Nürnberg.

Four wins from four will seal seventh straight German title

Challengers Dortmund, who meet rivals Schalke on the same day, had earlier this season appeared ready to end Bayern's stranglehold on the silverware, but a 10-game unbeaten streak has seen Kovac's men climb to the summit.

They can be crowned champions for the seventh successive season by taking maximum points from the remaining matches and head coach Kovac is keen to put the title beyond BVB's reach.

"It's a close fight. It's interesting for the fans. We would like to have more of a lead," Kovac said.

"We're going off the assumption that we need four victories, and if we do that we don't have to look at anyone else.

"We want to win all of our matches and focus on ourselves. I won't watch the Dortmund game against Schalke because we don't have to play against either of them.

"I'm only looking at RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hannover as they are the next opponents."

Domestic double still on for Bayern after win over Werder

Bayern kept alive their hopes of a domestic double thanks to Robert Lewandowski's brace in a nervy 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals in midweek.

Kovac has no fresh injury concerns but will likely resist the temptation to rotate his squad, an oft-criticised feature of the club's unconvincing performances before the mid-season break.

"I don't underestimate any opponent," he said.

"Everyone expects a win against Nürnberg and of course we want to win, but it won't be an easy match.

"Franck Ribéry is getting better but isn't at 100 per cent yet. Manuel Neuer is also on his way back. We have to see who is physically 100 per cent fit to play."