After playing the Champions League, Bayern and BVB recently had problems in everyday league life. Before the duel, which is so important for both, the question arises as to who can better drive the CL cat.
There are many greasy food, a counterbier, changing shower, anti-diarrhea powder-home remedies for a full-grown party cat. Some work better than others. In Munich and Dortmund, however, you should have been looking for the so-called Champions League cat these days before the direct duel on Saturday (April 12th, 6.30pm in the radio and in the ticker). Because the top game is an enormously important thing for both opponents.
In the premier class, Bayern lost the quarter-final first leg a little unfortunate with 1: 2 (0: 1) against Inter Milan, the Dortmunders were 0: 4 (0: 1) on Wednesday at FC Barcelona. Simply shaking up such severe defeats and going over to the “everyday league life” should also be difficult for professional athletes. Especially since a few days later the corresponding second legs are due. In addition, there is the aspect of physical stress for the squad, especially on the part of the Munich injury.
Bavaria and BVB with worse record of the Champions League
Seven times, Bayern did not end a game as the winner in this Bundesliga season-six of these losses of points, including the two defeats against Bochum and Mainz, each followed directly on Champions League games. At BVB, this balance, in view of the placement in the table, looks even more devastating: out of twelve Bundesliga games after appearances in the premier class, the Dortmund won only two and lost seven.
With a view to the weak performance against Barcelona, Kovac announced that he wanted to make one or the other change against Bayern. Pascal Groß, who had been blocked against Barca, Maximilian Beier and Daniel Svensson are candidates for a starting eleven return, Jamie Gitten’s or Felix Nmecha, for example. “The Bundesliga is again something completely different, with FC Bayern Munich, in my opinion, on the same level as FC Barcelona”said Kovac, who became champion with Bayern as a player and coach.
Dortmund needs at least one point in the race for Europe
This is understandably not really euphoric, the hit with the at least controversial name “Deutsche Clasico” is now more important for Dortmund on Saturday evening than the almost hopeless second leg against the Catalans and sports director Sebastian Kehl. With two league victories with good performances against Mainz and Freiburg in a row, BVB has brought itself into position for a place in the top five.
Sportschau, April 10th, 2025 11:47 a.m.
Four points are only in fifth place and five points are missing for fourth place. A few weeks ago, the situation looked much worse with seven and ten points. In view of the direct duels between Mönchengladbach and Freiburg as well as Stuttgart and Bremen, a point gain against the Munich would continue to leave all chances open, but a defeat would be extremely hurt in terms of points and psychologically the start of catch -up.
Personal position and the youngest duels give BVB hope
BVB can pull a bit of hope from the youngest duels: The first leg ended after gates from Gitten and Musiala 1: 1 (1: 0), the last duel in Munich on the 27th matchday of the pre -season even 2-0 (1: 0) for Borussia.
Despite the injuries to Nico Schlotterbeck and Marcel Sabitzer, the Dortmunders also looks better than with Bayern: the starting eleven of the first leg with Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, Musiala and Manuel Neuer Four players are injured (Mathys Tel now plays for Tottenham).
Pavlovic back? Does Müller play from the start?
After all, Aleksandar Pavlovic waves the return to the contingent after surviving Pfeiffers, it is also exciting whether Thomas Müller can go against Inter this time from the start and thus becomes a league record player of the Bavaria Dortmund classic together with Mats Hummels (29). Müller has played 17 goal participations in his 28 Bundesliga games against BVB.
The game on Saturday is also psychologically and extremely important for the Munich game: In view of at least six points, Bayern against Dortmund is probably decided the championship in view of at least six points and the significantly better goal difference compared to Leverkusen – in the first half of the season, Bayern finally got twelve points out of the last five games. This certainty and a convincing performance against BVB of the Elf vincent Kompany would also be extremely good for the difficult second leg in Milan on Wednesday.
Kane or Guirassy as “Kater-Killer”
The focus is also on the strikers Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy in this duel. Both awarded important major chances in their Champions League games and were therefore jointly responsible for the hangover of their clubs. In the second half of the season, Guirassy has scored eight goals for Dortmund so far, all out of the field, Kane has been playing 18 to seven goals since day, including two penalty. It is quite possible that one of the two will become a desired hangover on Saturday, Guirassy has only lost one of his four Bundesligaduels with Bayern.