NESHA STARCEVIC

AP Sports Writer

Bayern Munich will be out to prove that the Champions League is not a distraction to their domestic campaign when they travel to Bavarian neighbours Nuremberg in the Bundesliga today.

Bayern are riding a 13-game winning streak - nine of those victories in the Bundesliga - and are only behind undefeated leaders Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference.

Leverkusen's coach Jupp Heynckes has said that his team might have an advantage because they can focus exclusively on the Bundesliga while Bayern are still involved in three competitions - the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the German Cup.

Heynckes suggested that Bayern may neglect the Bundesliga once the Champions League resumes.

Bayern's first-leg match in the Round of 16 against Fiorentina ended in a fortunate 2-1 victory on Wednesday, a game decided by an offside goal from Miroslav Klose against a team reduced to ten men.

Louis van Gaal's side will now have to turn its attention to the league as they prepare to face their traditional Bavarian rivals.

Nuremberg are next to last after losing eight of their last nine games and desperately need points to avoid relegation.

But they have won only once in their last six games against Bayern, who will be without central defender Daniel van Buyten, out with a calf injury.

Bayern will also face two of their players on-loan at Nuremberg in central defender Breno and defensive midfielder Andreas Ottl.

"Bayern are a world-class team but on the field it's 11 against 11 and we can win," Breno said.

With van Buyten's absence, Bayern's sometimes wobbly defence could be tested by Nuremberg's striker Albert Bunjaku, who has scored 11 times this season.

"It's important that we go into the match with self-confidence and that we believe in our chance," Bunjaku said.

Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer called today's game the "match of the season."

Nuremberg's biggest task will be to contain wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, who have scored eight times in the Bundesliga.

"It's hard to shut them down on the flanks, we'll have to close our ranks in the midfield and be very alert in the defence," Ottl said.

Leverkusen and Bayern are both on 48 points. Leverkusen play tomorrow at home against Werder Bremen, who have won their last two matches after losing five straight.

Leverkusen will be without suspended Sami Hyypia, the top-rated defender in the league.