Bayern takes on resurgent Leipzig in Bundesliga. Bayern knows that winning their next two games will guarantee an 11th straight Bundesliga title, extending their record that now stands one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund in the standings.
Bayern will play a squad that has won seven of its last eight games, while perennial bridesmaids Dortmund will have a challenging journey to Augsburg.
Leipzig, which was originally promoted before the 2016–17 campaign, has since shown that it can compete with Dortmund for the title of second-best German team to Bayern.
Leipzig, who finished as 2019–20 Champions League quarterfinalists, are the current German Cup champions. The Saxons will compete in this year’s championship match for the fourth time in the previous five years.
Third-place Leipzig can secure a spot in the Champions League for the following season with a victory at Munich.
Marco Rose, the manager of Leipzig and the coach of Dortmund for the 2021–22 season, claimed to be aware of the situation but to concentrate on his own team.
The truth is that I don’t think it’s wrong for Dortmund fans to desire to win the championship, but ultimately, it’s about us.
In the uncommon case, if Bayern wins and Dortmund loses points on Sunday, the Bundesliga title might be determined this weekend.
Even if Leipzig manages to earn a point or better, Augsburg, who defeated Bayern at home in September, presents Dortmund with a difficult challenge.
Enrico Maassen, the manager of Augsburg, told the German tabloid Bild that he knew how much his “old home” wanted to win the championship. Maassen spent several years coaching Dortmund’s youth teams.
Maassen stated on Tuesday, “I would be happy if Dortmund became champions,” but added Augsburg will “give everything” to win on Sunday.
Herbert Hainer, the president of Bayern, promised Augsburg a truck full of beer if they could defeat Dortmund.
According to Maassen, we don’t have many beer drinkers on our team, but our supporters would undoubtedly be pleased.
On Tuesday, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stated that he would “cross his fingers in front of the TV” for Dortmund to grab the lead in the title race this weekend as his team battled for a top-four berth in the Premier League.
In 2011–12, when Dortmund last won the Bundesliga, Klopp was in charge.
In an interview with Sport Bild on Tuesday, Klopp stated, “I think the boys can do it. “The shield belongs back in Dortmund after 11 years.”
In Borussia Dortmund’s victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, Jude Bellingham’s value was shown when the 19-year-old was called to take a penalty with his team-leading 1-0.
Bayern takes on resurgent Leipzig in Bundesliga
Dortmund won 5-2 to maintain one point behind Bayern with two games left after Bellingham, who played part of the second half wearing the captain’s armband, converted the penalty. It was his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
In an interview released on Thursday, Bellingham said, “I wanted to take the penalty because it was a high-pressure situation, and I thought I could manage it.
“In the end, maybe I got a little lucky, but if it goes in, then that’s all I care about.”
Sebastian Kehl, the sporting director at Borussia Dortmund, claims that in his team’s final two games of the season against Augsburg on the road and Mainz at home, more than just the German championship may be on the line.
Kehl stated on Sunday that Bellingham, whose contract is up in 2025, “I don’t see us as not having a chance” to keep him.
“I think beating Bayern also sends a message, and if we win this year, it shows you are very ambitious,” the coach said.
Donyell Malen of Dortmund has scored eight goals in his last eight league contests. The talented attacker had only six goals in his previous 43 matches.
No team in Europe’s five top leagues can replicate Dortmund’s 53 goals scored in 17 games in 2023, which they did.
16 — Hurt Niclas Fuellkrug, a striker for Bremen, is the team’s leading scorer so far this year. 16 will be the lowest single-season total in Bundesliga history if he doesn’t add to this total and isn’t passed.
