Berlin, Feb 29: Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm is relishing what he describes as a "decisive week" for the Bundesliga leaders in their bid for an historic fourth straight league title.
Bayern are eight points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who they play away next Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash for Pep Guardiola's Bavarians, the second of two tough back-to-back league games in the coming week.
Bayern host fifth-placed Mainz on Wednesday, then travel to Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park to play their nearest rivals in Germany's 'Der Klassiker'.
Lahm says the aim is beat Mainz, then win at Dortmund to travel home with at least an 11-point advantage to put the Bavarians in pole position for a fourth straight title with nine games left.
"I think it will be a decisive week in the title race," said Lahm.
"If we manage to win both of our next games then we can definitely talk about the championship, but we still have a long way to go.
"We've still got a few games after this week, but if we win our next two then it'll be very difficult to catch us.
"But first we need to beat Mainz and Dortmund. We can take a huge step forward."
Two years ago, Bayern set the record for the earliest German league title win at the end of March -- with seven games left -- but Lahm says they are not focusing on setting a date to win the title by.     ?AFP