Rehhagel: Hertha must show courage

Hertha Berlin coach Otto Rehhagel has said that he does not want his side to become the third team in a week to concede seven goals to Bayern Munich. Berlin host the rampant Bavarians after seeing them put 14 goals past Hoffenheim and Basle over the past five days, but Rehhagel says his side will not be lambs to the slaughter, even if they have only won one game in 2012, losing the rest. "We need to resist them without fear but with courage and conviction," he said. "If we move like rabbits caught in the headlights, then we have no chance. If you do have to lose, then you should do so heroically and not let yourself be totally slaughtered like other teams. That is definitely not what we want." No other coach has beaten Bayern more often than Rehhagel, who has chalked up 18 wins against the Bavarians, and he will have several fans on Saturday with Borussia Dortmund hoping they can throw a spanner in the works and Borussia Monchengladbach and Schalke also keen to see Bayern come undone. Dortmund's advantage at the top of the Bundesliga was reduced to just four points last weekend while Gladbach are three points adrift of the Bavarians and Schalke are one point further behind. Dortmund host Werder Bremen while Gladbach travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Schalke are in action on Sunday when they head to bottom-placed Kaiserslautern. However, not everybody will be backing Hertha on Saturday. Augsburg edged above Hertha last weekend thanks to a 0-0 draw with Dortmund and they will be aiming to keep their heads above the relegation zone with a win over Mainz. Freiburg, who travel to Hamburg, are just a point behind Berlin while even Kaiserslautern can overtake them with a win. Elsewhere, Hoffenheim and Stuttgart meet in a Baden-Wurttemberg derby tomorrow night, Nurnberg host Wolfsburg on Saturday and the weekend concludes with Cologne's trip to Hannover.