Makaay wants to be back in the Team

After a short crisis, Bayern Munich got back to the winning path with a 3-0 victory over Schalke, restoring its six-point lead atop the Bundesliga. In the 27th round Saturday, Bayern travels to next-to-last Duisburg, which is almost certain to go down. In the Bundesliga, Bayern has 62 points, Hamburg 56, Schalke 51 and Werder Bremen 51.

This game is very special because it should give Netherlands striker Roy Makaay an chance to recapture his place in the team. Makaay was a substitute in the last three games, but he came on for the last 30 minutes against Schalke and contributed a goal and an assist.

"I assume I'll be starting," Makaay claimed. "I must admit that I hadn't thought that I'd be a reserve. I'd been practising well, I've scored three times so far in the second half of the season and I don't think that I've been so bad."

Indeed, Bayern's leading scorer has faced criticism from club officials for some below par performances.

As we know, Makaay has 12 goals and he is tied with Michael Ballack as Bayern's leading scorer and has extra motivation to return to the starting lineup.

Makaay was recently omitted from the Dutch national team and Bayern coach Felix Magath thinks that may be a reason for Makaay's slump.

"I am not thinking of the national team right now. There under three months to the World Cup. I want to use them in Bayern to show that I belong to the Dutch 23-man World Cup roster," he said.

What Bayern Munich wants - after getting knocked out of the Champions League - is to become the first German team to win the domestic double twice in a row.

"Yes, we've shaken off Schalke now, but with six points over Hamburg, we are still not home. We have to win in Duisburg and then things will be looking very good," Makaay said.