Bayern look to extend lead as Kompany makes his mark

MUNICH: Bayern Munich travel to promoted St Pauli on Saturday knowing a win will take them six points clear of RB Leipzig, who host mid-table Borussia Moenchengladbach later in the day.

With defending champions Bayer Leverkusen not hitting last year´s heights and Borussia Dortmund lacking consistency, Bayern and Leipzig have emerged as this season´s title contenders.

But Leipzig´s 2-1 loss at Dortmund last week, their first in the league this season, has given Vincent Kompany´s Bayern the chance to grow their lead at the top of the table. On Thursday, the Bundesliga released the next phase of the draw, with Bayern hosting Leipzig on the Friday before Christmas.

While neutrals may be hoping for a title race to go well into the spring, Bayern´s form have them threatening to pull away before the two sides clash.

Bayern´s patchy Champions League form -- with two wins and two losses -- have grabbed the headlines, especially with this year´s final taking place in Munich, but Kompany´s side have impressed domestically.

Bayern remain unbeaten and have dropped just four points in nine matches. In Bayern´s last four games in Germany, they have scored 16 without conceding a goal. The German giants, who went without a trophy last year for the first time since 2012, are primed for a return to the winner´s circle.

“Finally, we´re going back to Hamburg,” Thomas Mueller said on social media on Thursday. “We´re keen, we´re up for it, we want to pick up where we left of. “We´ve got one game to go before the international break so we can give it our all.”

Bayern´s last trip to face St Pauli came in May 2011 and is one the hosts will not care to remember. Mario Gomez hit a hat-trick and both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery scored braces in an 8-1 demolition -- St Pauli´s heaviest loss in the Bundesliga. St Pauli are clear underdogs on Saturday but have been solid so far this season despite losing coach Fabian Huerzeler, who took them back to the top division.