Trapattoni struggles with Italian-style pressure

The pressure is on Giovanni Trapattoni to deliver a first Bundesliga win of the season when VfB Stuttgart travel to Werder Bremen today.

After taking just a point from the first two league games and managing a lucky cup win over third division opposition, Trapattoni must feel as if he was back in charge of Italy.

The media are sharpening their criticism of the team's form by the day while questioning the decision to leave captain Zvonimir Soldo on the bench.

A trip to face Bremen, double winners in 2004, is one of the trickiest away days on the calendar and time is running out for Trapattoni. Failure to climb out of lower reaches of the table would start talk of crisis just two months after his arrival.

"I have been coaching teams for 30 years and I know how teams work," Trapattoni said.

"The team hasn't managed to change its mentality yet. We are not playing with confidence for the full 90 minutes. But rest assured, calmness and trust are improving in every training session."

Stuttgart are clearly missing striker Kevin Kuranyi, sold to Schalke 04 at the end of last season, and winger Alex Hleb, now with Arsenal.

Jon Dahl Tomasson has yet to suggest he can be as reliable in the box as Kuranyi and the problem will be exacerbated today when fellow forward Cacau is suspended.

Bremen have made a perfect start to the season, winning their opening two league games and securing a place in the Champions League with a 3-0 win over FC Basel on Wednesday.

Champions Bayern Munich, ahead of Bremen on goal difference, face problems ahead of a home game against Hertha Berlin today.

Striker Roque Santa Cruz is definitely out with a thigh injury and Claudio Pizarro is recovering from a back problem, leaving Felix Magath with doubts over who will partner Roy Makaay up front.

Bayern could manage only two draws with Hertha in the league last season but the way the Bavarians have started - with eight goals in two league games - makes them confident they can do better this time.

Bundesliga

Playing Today - 3.30 p.m.
Cologne vs Kaiserslautern
B. Munich vs H. Berlin
E. Frankfurt vs Nuremberg
Hamburg vs Hanover
Schalke vs B. M'gladbach
Wolfsburg vs B. Leverkusen
W. Bremen vs Stuttgart

Tomorrow - 5.30 p.m.
A. Bielefeld vs Mainz
Duisburg vs B. Dortmund

Primera Liga

Playing Today
Alaves vs Barcelona 8 p.m.
A. Bilbao vs R. Sociedad 10 p.m.
Valencia vs Real Betis 10 p.m.

Tomorrow - 7 p.m.
A. Madrid vs R. Zaragoza
Cadiz vs Real Madrid 9 p.m.
Celta Vigo vs Malaga
Osasuna vs Villarreal
Espanyol vs Getafe
R. Mallorca vs D. Coruna
Sevilla vs R. Santander