The German word of the week in the Bundesliga in anticipation of Saturday’s clash (live at 12:30 p.m. ET, on ESPN+) is not the marketing term der Klassiker but rather die Aufholjagd, which translates to “the hunt to catch up.”
To be honest, very few in the lively Ruhrpott this week believe that Borussia Dortmund can close a nine-point gap on leaders Bayern Munich. Given the goal difference heavily in favor of the Rekordmeister, BVB faces a tough uphill battle with only 11 games left. However, a head-to-head Gipfeltreffen (summit meeting) could provide a fresh perspective.
Dortmund has spent considerable time this season under Niko Kovac challenging stereotypes, exhibiting a more consistent approach, grinding out victories, pressing effectively, and reestablishing themselves as the clear second-best team in the Bundesrepublik.
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However, Wednesday night in Bergamo saw old issues resurface for die Schwarz-Gelben, as they collectively had to Lehrgeld zahlen (pay the price for a painful lesson) after being knocked out by Atalanta in their knockout round playoff match in the UEFA Champions League.
Whether Dortmund can transform these lessons—such as avoiding a passive start in big matches and ensuring Gregor Kobel doesn’t give possession away in crucial moments—into success against Bayern’s immense quality remains uncertain.
Bayern is on track to potentially set a new Bundesliga single-season goal-scoring record (currently at 85 goals, needing just 17 more). Harry Kane needs 14 goals by mid-May to surpass Robert Lewandowski’s record of 41 league goals set in the 2020-21 season. Kane has netted a Doppelpack (double) in his last three league outings, and if he maintains fitness, the prospect of him becoming the most prolific winner of the Torjägerkanone award looks promising.
With Michael Olise scoring regularly while also assisting others, and Luis Díaz causing significant trouble for opposing defenses, Bayern typically secures victories by dominating their opponents. There is no team that executes this better.
Nonetheless, a slight defensive fragility has emerged since January, with only one clean sheet in the Bundesliga this year.
For instance, Augsburg managed to win at the Allianz Arena, Hoffenheim gave them a tough time even with 10 men, and just last week, Eintracht Frankfurt scored a couple of late goals, much to the annoyance of Bayern fans expecting an easy win, deeming the outcome nervig (irritating).
As of now, it remains uncertain who will be Bayern’s goalkeeper. Manuel Neuer has been training all week to possibly return after a calf injury sustained at the Weserstadion two weeks ago.
However, Bayern has confidence in 22-year-old backup Jonas Urbig, who looks increasingly like a future star. While Urbig faced some challenges in the Augsburg match, his performances have generally been good to excellent.
If there are any doubts regarding Neuer’s condition, it would be unwise to risk him—especially with an eight-point gap at the top and upcoming critical Champions League matches. Alphonso Davies is out for the foreseeable future due to a muscle injury, but with Konrad Laimer back in the mix, Vincent Kompany has ample depth in the fullback positions with players like Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito.
It almost seems unfair for Dortmund, given the monumental challenge they face on Saturday, that right wing back Julian Ryerson is suspended. Once seen as an honest journeyman, he has evolved into one of the most crucial players in Kovac’s lineup.
Reliable in open play, Ryerson’s precision in delivering from open play or set pieces has been exceptional; in one game, he provided assists for all four of his team’s goals against Mainz. Replacing him against Bayern will be Yan Couto, who is more offensively minded but less defensively reliable.
On the bright side, Nico Schlotterbeck will return to strengthen the Dreierkette (three-man defense) in front of Kobel, who leads the Bundesliga with 11 clean sheets. BVB will need an abundance of energy and cunning from Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha in midfield to counter the formidable pairing of Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic.
This Saturday is likely to bring more Verkehrschaos in Dortmund, a recurring issue lately. Industrial action by the trade union, Verdi, has disrupted the Stadtbahn (city train/tram service) and bus lines, prompting fans to walk approximately 40 minutes from the Stadtzentrum (city center) to Signal Iduna Park.
After the match, there’s a very real possibility that Dortmund’s season could effectively unravel in just 90 minutes. With their Champions League hopes already dashed and the DFB-Pokal out of reach, a defeat in this Klassiker would render an Aufholjagd virtually impossible.