Dithering Dortmund Face Brilliant Bayern

29 November 2012

The match of the weekend could be in Germany, where stuttering back-to-back champions Borussia Dortmund visit runaway leaders Bayern Munich.

Some pundits have suggested that with nothing left to prove in the Bundesliga, Dortmund have put all their eggs in the Champions League basket this season.

And in sailing through the ‘group of death’ ahead of Real Madrid, Dortmund have indeed looked a different outfit to the team that is already 11 points behind Bayern, and close to relinquishing their title before half the season has passed.

But Dortmund’s players insist they are determined to burst back into the Bundesliga title race this weekend, and bring high-flying and haughty Bayern crashing back to earth in the process.

However, winning at the Allianz Arena this season is a task far more easier said than done, with the Bavarian giants a far better team that the one that imploded last time out.

Having said that, Dortmund are confident of maintaining their positive run of results against Bayern.

"After such unsuccessful games like against Fortuna we always come back with a show of defiance," said Dortmund defender Neven Subotic referring to a recent dour draw with promoted Dusseldorf.

"That is our trademark."

If Dortmund lose to Bayern, they will be a mountainous 14 points behind the traditional powerhouses of Germany.

But even so, skipper Sebastian Kehl is refusing to consider Dortmund’s campaign in irrevocable trouble.

"We should not make a crisis out of it," he said.

"We will be in different form on Saturday. We will try everything to win.

“The season is far from over but even us in Dortmund can see Bayern have opened up a big lead by playing very consistently."