Der Klassiker: Injury-hit Bayern head to resurgent Dortmund
Hosts have fallen from grace this season but a recent run of form sees them climb to 10th.
Bayern are 10 points clear in the league table. PHOTO: AFP
BERLIN:
Injury-hit Bayern Munich head to resurgent Borussia Dortmund on Saturday shorn of their top stars and with the hosts out to prove there is still life in Germany’s ‘Der Klassiker’.
The Bundesliga has been won twice each by Dortmund and Bayern over the last four years and the media has dubbed their meetings ‘Der Klassiker’ — Germany’s answer to Spain’s ‘El Clasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
But a glance at the Bundesliga table highlights Dortmund’s dramatic fall from grace this season with Jurgen Klopp’s side currently 10th, having started February bottom of the table after a disastrous run of results.
In contrast, Bayern are 10 points clear in the league table and heading towards a third straight league title. But Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians will be missing injured key stars Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Franck Ribery at the Signal Iduna Park.
Bayern lost for the third time this season last time out, going down 2-0 in Munich to Borussia Moenchengladbach, a fortnight ago.
But Dortmund know there is still work to do if they are to once again give Bayern a run for their money. “At the moment it’s certainly not a top-of-the-table clash when you look at the table,” admitted Dortmund’s director of sport Michael Zorc. “But it will still grab the attention of millions of fans across Germany.”
However, with Germany winger Marco Reus in superb form alongside top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dortmund have the attack to cause Bayern problems. “We have generally never given up on a home game in advance,” said Klopp, who will be without Germany squad members Kevin Grosskreutz and Erik Durm. “I would suggest we don’t talk much and instead try to put in a good performance. We’re not at the same level as Bayern and, unless I am mistaken, we never have been, but we have never considered ourselves to have no chance and that also goes for now.”
Without Robben, Bayern’s top scorer this season with 17 goals in 21 games, Guardiola will be missing some pace on the flanks, especially on the left without wing-back Alaba and winger Ribery. “It’s bad news,” said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. “They are really important for us. We mustn’t complain, we need to look forward. We’ve got a big squad and have to compensate for losses like this.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2015.
Injury-hit Bayern Munich head to resurgent Borussia Dortmund on Saturday shorn of their top stars and with the hosts out to prove there is still life in Germany’s ‘Der Klassiker’.
The Bundesliga has been won twice each by Dortmund and Bayern over the last four years and the media has dubbed their meetings ‘Der Klassiker’ — Germany’s answer to Spain’s ‘El Clasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
But a glance at the Bundesliga table highlights Dortmund’s dramatic fall from grace this season with Jurgen Klopp’s side currently 10th, having started February bottom of the table after a disastrous run of results.
In contrast, Bayern are 10 points clear in the league table and heading towards a third straight league title. But Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians will be missing injured key stars Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Franck Ribery at the Signal Iduna Park.
Bayern lost for the third time this season last time out, going down 2-0 in Munich to Borussia Moenchengladbach, a fortnight ago.
But Dortmund know there is still work to do if they are to once again give Bayern a run for their money. “At the moment it’s certainly not a top-of-the-table clash when you look at the table,” admitted Dortmund’s director of sport Michael Zorc. “But it will still grab the attention of millions of fans across Germany.”
However, with Germany winger Marco Reus in superb form alongside top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dortmund have the attack to cause Bayern problems. “We have generally never given up on a home game in advance,” said Klopp, who will be without Germany squad members Kevin Grosskreutz and Erik Durm. “I would suggest we don’t talk much and instead try to put in a good performance. We’re not at the same level as Bayern and, unless I am mistaken, we never have been, but we have never considered ourselves to have no chance and that also goes for now.”
Without Robben, Bayern’s top scorer this season with 17 goals in 21 games, Guardiola will be missing some pace on the flanks, especially on the left without wing-back Alaba and winger Ribery. “It’s bad news,” said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. “They are really important for us. We mustn’t complain, we need to look forward. We’ve got a big squad and have to compensate for losses like this.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2015.