Pep Guardiola has warned that Bayern Munich are in for a real challenge when they visit Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Bayern will be looking to defend their 11-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga against an in-form Bremen side that sit eighth in the table.
The German champions will have to do without the suspended Xabi Alonso, as well as Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, who are both unavailable because of injuries sustained during the 7-0 Champions League last-16 second-leg victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer reportedly has also been left out of the squad.
"I have got respect for Werder Bremen," Guardiola, who refused to comment on the recent row between the two clubs, told his prematch news conference on Friday.
"I've got a good feeling that we'll do a good job tomorrow, although people have told me that away at Bremen is always difficult.
"We need to control our game and always look for the free man. We need to keep the ball away from our box. Bremen's players are tall and they have very good set pieces. We need to be careful."
Philipp Lahm -- in the Bayern squad on Wednesday after recovering from injury -- is not an option for the starting lineup, Guardiola explained, adding that his "fitness could be enough for a few minutes."
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Thiago Alcantara, who has struggled with a knee injury for nearly a year, returned to team training.
"He trained with us for the first time yesterday -- he played passes but did not get into direct duels," Guardiola said. "I think he can fully train after the international break [in late March]."
Holger Badstuber, 26 this Friday, is a step ahead of Thiago after making his comeback from injury, and is now closing in on a return to the Germany squad, with his last cap being won prior to a knee problem in 2012.
"Jogi Low is the national team coach. He will do the right thing," Guardiola said. "Holger will return to the Nationalmannschaft sooner or later, no doubt about that -- but Low decides when. Holger now is a football player and not an injured player."
On Friday, speaking to Suddeutsche Zeitung, Low -- who has signed a new contract with Germany -- hinted that Badstuber could return to his squad when they take on Australia and Georgia later this month, calling him someone he "banks on for the 2016 European Championship."