Bayern Munich leave four top players out of Dortmund clash

Reuters, Friday 3 May 2013

Bayern leave Ribery, Robben, Lahm and Schweinsteiger out of the squad for Saturday's Bundesliga game at Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich
Bayern's players celebrate a goal by Bayern's Arjen Robben of the Netherlands, left, during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 (Photo: AP )

Bayern Munich have left Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger out of their squad for Saturday's Bundesliga match at Borussia Dortmund, a dress rehearsal for this month's Champions League final.

Coach Jupp Heynckes, expected to make other changes for the awkwardly-timed match, said the quartet have minor injuries following Tuesday's 3-0 win at Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final second leg.

Bayern have wrapped up the Bundesliga and second-placed Dortmund are guaranteed a place in next season's Champions League group stage.

"As always, we'll prepare professionally and try to play in Dortmund the way we always play," said Heynckes on Bayern's website.

"The physical demands on the players are extreme, so they need longer to recover," he added, referring to his decision to rotate the team.

Bayern have won all 14 league matches since the winter break and are unbeaten away in the Bundesliga this season.

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