Hannover travel to title-chasing Bayern Munich in confident mood as they continue their quest for a return to Europe next season.

Hannover have made it into the last eight of the Europa League for the first time in their history this year and coach Mirko Slomka believes their exploits in that competition have had a positive effect on his side domestically.

"We are now being taken more seriously and we don't need to hide from any opponent in the Bundesliga,'' he said.

"We have earned this respect.

"The European games have given us a lot of self-confidence. We have matured a lot.

"Our dream is to play in the Europa League again next season.''

There was good news in that respect for Hannover this week with the outcome of the two DFB-Pokal semi-finals meaning seventh place in the Bundesliga will now be enough for a place in the Europa League. Slomka's side currently occupy that spot in the standings.

They face a tough test this weekend with a trip to second-placed Bayern, although Slomka has taken hope from the Bavarian side's cup clash with Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek.

Bayern went into that match having scored 20 goals in their previous three games, but they could find no way through the Monchengladbach defence after 120 minutes of football and needed a penalty shoot-out win to book their berth in the DFB-Pokal final.

Slomka said: "Of course I watched the cup game and Gladbach showed how things can be done against Bayern.

"We just have to do better than Gladbach and get a goal ourselves.''

Slomka takes a fully-fit squad to the Allianz Arena, but the home side will once again be without Bastian Schweinsteiger.

He pulled out of training yesterday as he continues to struggle with an ankle injury.

Bayern are also still without Breno and Daniel van Buyten, but nobody picked up a knock on Wednesday night so fatigue will be coach Jupp Heynckes' main concern as his side look to cut the five-point gap to leaders Borussia Dortmund.


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