Bayern Munich have Robert Lewandowski back for Sunday’s Bundesliga clash at home to Werder Bremen.

The striker, who has 15 goals in his 17 league games this term, has recovered from the knee ligament problem which ruled him out of the 3-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen in Bayern’s first game back after the winter break.

“He says his problems have practically disappeared,” coach Jupp Heynckes said on the club website. “And you can see that. He made a good impression in training.”

The runaway leaders will have to cope without centre-back Mats Hummels and almost certainly left-back David Alaba. The former, who missed the Leverkusen match with adductor problems, has been suffering from flu, while Alaba has had gastroenteritis.

The hosts also go into the match safe in the knowledge they have secured their main transfer target, with Schalke’s Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka having agreed to move to the Allianz Arena on a four-year contract in the summer.

While Bayern headed into the weekend with a 13-point lead at the top of the standings, Bremen were third bottom and 28 points behind their opponents.

If that was not bad enough, Bremen have lost their last 16 competitive matches against Bayern, by an aggregate score of 59-8.

Visiting coach Florian Kohfeldt insists, though, the outcome on Sunday is not a foregone conclusion.

“The past doesn’t matter,” he was quoted as saying on the Bayern website.

Bremen’s form improved in December and they have lost just once in their last five league matches, drawing 1-1 with Hoffenheim last time out.

“Our belief in our own strength has grown over the last few weeks,” said Kohfeldt

“We want to take something away from Munich, I don’t have to encourage my players for that.”