It began in Hamburg, of all places. A 3-0 victory on 3 November 2012 was the start of an unbeaten run for FC Bayern which, almost a year to the day later, can equal the Bundesliga record set 30 years by SV Hamburg. If the German champions get through Saturday's away game in Hoffenheim unscathed, they will have gone through 36 league matches without defeat, as Hamburg did in 1982-83. Who could ask for better motivation?
But for Pep Guardiola and his players the record is a secondary consideration. "It's a great thing for the club, something extraordinary, but for the team all that matters is winning and playing well," said the Bayern coach, noting that Bayern's rivals in the title hunt are just waiting for the Reds to slip up. A win matters first of all as a way of defending Bayern 's position at the top of the table.
"Records aren't as important as titles," said Arjen Robben, stressing the team's focus on the championship this season. "We have the opportunity to equal a record, which is great, but Bayern's goal is always winning," said Philipp Lahm, who expects strong resistance in Hoffenheim from the home side: "It's a very difficult fixture. We've always had a tough time in Hoffenheim in the past few years."
