BERLIN (AFP) - German World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus insisted on Saturday Hamburg are the "last hope" of stopping Bayern Munich's march to the Bundesliga title when the sides clash on Sunday.

Even though there are still 30 rounds of the Bundesliga left, Matthaus, who captained Germany's 1990 World Cup winning-side, says Hamburg are the last chance to stop Bayern on their march to their 21st crown as German champs.

If Bayern pick up their fourth straight win of the season and protect their 100 percent record, Matthaus believes the German giants will have built up so much momentum they will be unstoppable.

"If Hamburg win, they will stop Bayern in their tracks and put some much-needed suspense back in the championships," Matthaus told German tabloid Bild.

"Bayern are the clear favourites by a long way and if they are beaten in Hamburg, it will give hopes to their rivals like Schalke 04, Eintracht Frankfurt and Arminia Bielefeld," said the former midfielder who spent 12 years at Bayern.

The German giants have seen an immediate return on their 69 million euro summer recruitment drive having won all four of their opening games and scored ten goals without reply.

Star midfielder Franck Ribery has been receiving some rough treatment from frustrated opponents, but Matthaus has little sympathy for the French star.

"Players like him are much better protected by referees than in my day," said Matthaus.