The Bundesliga title race seems set to go to the ultimate day of the season with just one level separating league chief Borussia Dortmund and 10-time defending champion Bayern Munich.
The winner will obtain the “Meisterschale” (champion’s bowl), which is often known as the “salad bowl” due to its look.
In latest years, Bayern has normally had the bowl within the bag by now. With the exception of 2019, the title race hasn’t been this shut at this stage since 2010, when Louis van Gaal’s Bayern workforce had simply taken a one-point lead over Schalke with a 2-1 win over the then-league leaders in Gelsenkirchen.
This time, the Bavarian powerhouse is within the unaccustomed function of being a degree behind.
Bayern loved a 4-2 win over Dortmund in Munich on April 1 however has been misfiring since. It was one in every of solely two wins Bayern has managed in seven video games in all competitions since Thomas Tuchel was appointed coach.
The resolution to fireplace his predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann, and the workforce’s subsequent poor type — and Champions League and German Cup exits — has piled stress on Bayern chief government Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić. Both of their jobs are reportedly beneath menace.
Such is Bayern’s predicament that former membership president Uli Hoeneß spoke with Tuchel earlier than coaching on Wednesday. Kicker journal reported that the boys spoke for about quarter-hour and that Hoeneß turned very animated at instances earlier than he left Tuchel to supervise follow.
Dortmund has overcome its personal troubles to take over on high. The workforce coached by Eden Terzić missed earlier alternatives to capitalize on Bayern’s weaknesses, however lastly seized its probability final weekend when Mainz defeated Bayern 3-1. With the lead within the standings beckoning, Dortmund responded by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0.
Dortmund can stretch its result in 4 factors on Friday with a win at relegation-threatened Bochum of their native derby, whereas Bayern will hope to enhance its poor file beneath Tuchel with a win over last-place Hertha Berlin in Munich on Saturday.
After Bochum, Dortmund has house video games in opposition to Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach, then Augsburg away, earlier than ending with a house sport in opposition to Mainz.
“There’s five really tough games to come, whichever way you look at it,” Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham mentioned.
After Hertha, Bayern visits Werder Bremen, then has house video games in opposition to Schalke and Leipzig earlier than ending the season in Cologne.
Bayern will possible have to win each sport to keep away from the ignominy of ending the season with no trophy.
“We can still be German champion, anything is possible, and we won’t slack off a millimeter,” Kahn mentioned after the loss in Mainz. “You need belief and sometimes it just takes a moment for it to come back. We have to give ourselves a shake, see that we get back into form.”
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com