Mighty due a fall in Germany

Two-horse race
With title-holders Bayern dropping to fourth spot following their 3-0 reverse against 1. FC Nürnberg on Friday - one point behind third-placed VfB Stuttgart and a further seven adrift of the pacesetters - the German championship is looking increasingly like a two-horse race. High-scoring Bremen have maintained an advantage over Schalke through the last four rounds - currently on goal difference. Both sides won in midweek, with Schalke narrowly beating TSV Alemannia Aachen 2-1 and Bremen impressing in a 2-0 triumph at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Bremen's general manager Klaus Allofs, however, says there is no room for complacency.

'Never forget Bayern'
"Many people think Schalke don't have a hope, but not us," he said. The absence of Torsten Frings through suspension could be a bonus for Schalke, while the midfielder himself is still wary of Bayern under their new coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, saying: "Never forget Bayern - it would be a big mistake."

Lincoln race
A booking against Aachen leaves Schalke right-back Rafinha suspended for the trip to the Weserstadion, while midfielders Levan Kobiashvili and Lincoln are in doubt. Coach Mirko Slomka said of the latter: "We are working day and night so we can field him in Bremen, but it is going to be tight." Should he make it, German fans are in for a treat, with many eager to see how Lincoln fares against Bremen's own Brazilian powerhouse Diego. Then there is the shoot-out between Bremen's eleven-goal Miroslav Klose and Schalke's eight-goal Kevin Kuranyi.

Collision course
Unbeaten in their last ten outings, Schalke go into Sunday's match on the back of four straight wins, but their hosts have not put a foot wrong in their last six games. Something has to give. It is quite possible that at the end of the season, people will say the title was won and lost here.