Bayern eye top spot as feel-good factor returns under Flick

Bayern Munich are eyeing a return to top spot in the Bundesliga this weekend with interim boss Hansi Flick enjoying the best start in the club's impressive history.

They are third in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's home game against Bayer Leverkusen, only a point behind leaders Moenchengladbach, who host fourth-placed Freiburg on Sunday.

Bayern underlined their form in Tuesday's 6-0 win at Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League when Robert Lewandowski scored four goals in 15 stunning minutes.

The romp handed Flick a fourth straight win, with 16 goals scored and none conceded, in the three weeks since being made interim coach after Niko Kovac was sacked.

No other coach has enjoyed a better start at Bayern.

"It's a tremendous series, we are on an incredible run," enthused club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who has said Flick will remain in charge until at least January.

With a game to spare, Bayern are through to the last 16 of the Champions League as guaranteed group winners.

Now Rummenigge has set the challenge of regaining top spot in the Bundesliga for the first time since early October.

"We are still only third and it would be nice if we could be looking down from the top by Christmas," he said.

"That should be our big goal."
"That's why things are going well and we're all happy."
One to watch: Jurgen Klinsmann
==============================
Key stats
=========
Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless stated) Friday
Schalke v FC Union Berlin (1930)
Saturday
Hoffenheim v Fortuna Duesseldorf, Hertha Berlin v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Augsburg, Paderborn v RB Leipzig, Bayern Munchen v Bayer Leverkusen (1730)
Sunday