Bundesliga
Key game in the title fight: BVB against Bayer under pressure
Dortmund’s Mats Hummels considers the task in Leverkusen to be more difficult than that in San Siro. photo
© David Inderlied/dpa
The title contenders from Dortmund fell behind badly early in the season. In the duel with leaders Leverkusen, Terzic’s team is only considered an outsider – and is under pressure.
Early farewell to the championship race or an encouraging start to another race to catch up? For Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga duel with Bayer Leverkusen will take place on Sunday (5.30 p.m./DAZN). Key game.
In the event of a defeat, the gap between the fourth-placed team and the previously unbeaten leaders would grow to an unassailable 13 points. With all due respect for the tricky task, Hans-Joachim Watzke is combative. “This is a top game, against a top team. But on Sunday we have the opportunity to check whether they really can’t be beaten. In any case, in recent years it has always worked out quite well,” said the BVB boss with a look four wins against the Werkself in the last five games.
Great respect for Leverkusen
At the beginning of the year, football coach Edin Terzic’s team demonstrated comeback qualities, caught up with a similar point deficit and were closer to the end of the championship than they have been for a long time. But this season the competition seems much more stable. “A year ago, the league leaders had 26 points after twelve matchdays. Then we would now be only two points behind,” said Watzke, “Bayer Leverkusen are doing exceptionally well. You have to recognize that. If you win eleven out of twelve games and once If we play a draw, that’s extraordinary.”
Mats Hummels also goes into the sold-out game with similar respect. The Dortmund defense chief believes the task in the BayArena is even more difficult than that in San Siro, where BVB gained new courage for the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win in the Champions League against AC Milan on Tuesday: “Leverkusen is one Team that currently has to be settled via Milan. They play fantastic football. In Germany that is the most difficult task at the moment.”
Nevertheless, the 34-year-old veteran sees good chances for his team to overcome the high hurdle. In his opinion, BVB’s effectiveness away from home has improved significantly: “A few years ago it was the case that we often broke away, especially in difficult away games, when things got tough. We can do that completely this season don’t blame me.”
Kehl: “We have become more resilient”
But the out of the question performances against Munich (0:4) and in Stuttgart (1:2) just a few weeks ago fueled doubts in specialist trips as to whether BVB can intervene in the title fight again. According to sports director Sebastian Kehl, the team is well on the way to dispelling these doubts: “We are more stable again, we have become more resilient.”
Unlike in previous years, the Werkself go into the West duel as favorites. Despite the advantageous starting position, coach Xabi Alonso did not want to speak of a trend-setting game. “There is a gap, but there is still a lot of time until May,” said the Spanish coach, as usual cautiously, after the 2-0 win in the Europa League against Swedish Cup winners BK Häcken. “The goal is three more points for us. If we achieve the goal, we will be in a super position.”
The recent upward trend fuels confidence that they can continue their winning streak against BVB. When asked what he expected from the game, striker Jonas Hofmann replied with a smile: “It will be difficult for them.” The former Dortmund player added loosely: “They always say it should be exciting. I hope not, but that it turns out clearly for us.”