The timing of the Bundesliga Klassiker for league leaders Bayern Munich couldn’t be more challenging for the struggling Borussia Dortmund, with their entire season hinging on Saturday’s outcome.
The Ruhr valley outfit has had little time to regroup following their heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Dortmund, who reached last season’s final, faced a tough battle in Spain, continuously getting caught on the break and outpaced by their formidable opponents.
This result has intensified the pressure on coach Niko Kovac and his squad as they prepare to face Bayern, with the team in real danger of missing out on Champions League football next season.
Currently sitting in eighth place with 41 points, Dortmund finds themselves five points adrift of the coveted fourth spot, which secures automatic Champions League qualification, with only six matches remaining.
Players from Dortmund have acknowledged that reversing the deficit against Barcelona is virtually an impossibility, signalling the likely end of their European campaign this season.
Club executives are particularly concerned that failing to secure a top-six finish could see Dortmund miss out on all European competitions.
“We will be focusing on defending much better than we did against Barcelona,” Kovac stated.
“Without solid defensive play, we will encounter serious challenges in Munich as well.”
League leaders Bayern have their own incentives as they gear up for this clash, determined to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Inter Milan in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final, hoping to head into the return leg next week with renewed confidence.
Additionally, they aim to maintain their six-point lead in the Bundesliga over defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, ensuring they secure silverware should they face an exit from European competitions next week.
Although the Bavarians still harbour hopes in the Champions League, any misstep in the league could have severe repercussions for Vincent Kompany’s squad, which is battling injuries as they strive to reclaim domestic dominance after last season’s Leverkusen double.
Kompany should have midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic back available for selection after being sidelined due to illness since March.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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