Munich, Germany – Bayern Munich has slipped seven points off the pace in the Bundesliga and is on the brink of elimination in the Champions League, but the next week could change the club's fortunes.
Bayern visits Hoffenheim on Saturday in the Bundesliga with hopes a win would spark its run to a league title and give it momentum for the second leg of its Champions League series against Basel.
Although defending champion Borussia Dortmund has seized control of the title race, Bayern could still easily claim the crown with a visit to Dortmund still on the slate of 10 remaining league games.
First, though, it must knock off a Hoffenheim side that has lost just one loss over its last nine league fixtures. Although six of those results are draws, Bayern is not in position to settle for one point this weekend.
Especially not at home. And especially not with Basel visiting the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. Basel won the first leg in Switzerland, 1-0, and would eliminate a second giant if it can hold on in Munich.
Basel sent Manchester United home in group play, and will provide another huge test for the German side early next week in the decisive leg of their series.
But like other teams still alive in the Champions League, Bayern can not allow itself to look ahead too much.
Coach Jupp Heynckes has dismissed reports this week that his job was in doubt, or that he would leave the club. He has tried to keep focus on the games ahead and off himself.
The top news this week for Heynckes was that midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger returned to full training after a torn ankle ligament. The German star will not start this weekend, but could get a few minutes ahead of the Basel clash.
"I hope I'm able to include him when I name the squad," Heynckes said. "He's trained relatively well with the rest of the team.
"As you'd expect, he lacks match rhythm, and he's not in good enough physical shape to start. For me and for the team, he's an important contact point both on and off the field. He's a crucial player whose personality is a stimulus to the team."
Bayern has struggled without Schweinsteiger, who also missed time earlier this season with a fractured collarbone. The Munich side can only hope his return will mark a return to form, or its title chances on two fronts could end this week.
Dortmund takes its 18-match unbeaten streak to Augsburg on Saturday. Dortmund has won its last eight, while Augsburg has shown better form of late with just one loss in its last five.
Third-place Monchengladbach will try to rebound from a 1-0 defeat to Nurnberg when it hosts Freiburg and fifth-place Bayer Leverkusen will try to extend its win streak to four matches at Wolfsburg in two more Saturday matches.
Also Saturday, Stuttgart hosts Kaiserslautern, Cologne hosts Hertha Berlin and Mainz hosts Nurnberg.
On Sunday, Schalke will try to shake off a recent skid that includes losses in three of its last four league matches when it hosts Hamburg, and Werder Bremen hosts Hannover.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.