Berlin – Bayern Munich rallied from a goal down to defeat Borussia Dortmund and stay top of the Bundesliga on Saturday, remaining unbeaten while their opponents are left to clutch at straws hoping for a change of fortune.
Bayern Munich survived a tough test to win 2-1 against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday and maintain their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga but their defeated opponents also have cause for optimism despite the loss.
While “der Klassiker”, the German equivalent of Spain’s Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, was eagerly anticipated, the difference between the sides in the table was a surprise.
Dortmund, off the back of four consecutive league losses, travelled to Munich much closer to the relegation zone than they were to table-topping Bayern.
With that context, losing to their in-form hosts was not a shock but performing so well, and leading at half-time, was a clear improvement on recent efforts.
“We played a fantastic first half, the best in a long time,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. “The second half was clearly less good, we no longer had control.
“It is hard because we invested a lot. But it was not an undeserved defeat, we played far too little football.”
Unlike their struggles in the Bundesliga, Dortmund have been cruising in the Champions League so far and top Group D ahead of Tuesday’s match at home to Galatasaray.
Having already won 4-0 in Istanbul, a similarly convincing win in front of their own fans could spark a domestic revival.
“We must continue to believe in ourselves to get away from the bottom of the table,” defender Sokratis said.
Bayern on the other hand have no such crisis of confidence to deal with as they top the table and also boast a 100 percent record in the Champions League.
Having destroyed Roma 7-1 in Italy two weeks ago, another victory in the return match Wednesday will confirm qualification to the knock-out stage with two matches to spare.
But having been held to a goalless draw by Borussia Moenchengladbach and then needing a late penalty, from Arjen Robben, to defeat Dortmund, it is also clear that organised and disciplined opponents can come up with a plan to pose them problems.
“We’re obviously very pleased,” coach Pep Guardiola said. “We played superb football in the second half. All credit to my team.
“They man-marked Xabi Alonso in the first half but we found solutions, and I believe we’ll always find solutions for situations like that.”
The introduction of Franck Ribery as a substitute helped turn the game in Bayern’s favour but arguably no more so than Dortmund defender Mats Hummels going off with injury at half time.
His replacement, Nevan Subotic, inadvertently set up Robert Lewandowski for Bayern’s equaliser and then conceded the decisive spot kick when robbed by Ribery on the edge of the box.
So while Bayern, four points clear of the closest pursuers, are already eyeing another Bundesliga title, Dortmund are left – for the moment at least – to scrap it out with the teams scrambling to avoid relegation.
And is there sympathy for their situation from Bayern? “No, why?” asked Robben. “I don’t think that they would have any for us either.” – Sapa-dpa