Dortmund dare to dream as Bayern's title march falters
In a mere two matchdays, Borussia Dortmund have narrowed Bayern Munich's advantage at the top of the Bundesliga standings by five points, now sitting just six behind the frontrunners and possibly sparking renewed interest in a championship contest that had seemed all but over.
Following Bayern's exceptional first half of the season, which set records in Bundesliga annals, securing another title appeared straightforward.
However, Bayern's unexpected defeat at home to Augsburg, marking their initial league loss in nearly a year, combined with a tough draw against Hamburg last weekend, has enabled Niko Kovac's Dortmund squad to close the gap.
Dortmund face struggling Wolfsburg away on Saturday, with Bayern set to host in-form Hoffenheim the following day.
Should Dortmund secure a win, they would trail Bayern by only three points temporarily, increasing the pressure on the Bavarian powerhouse juggling commitments across three tournaments this year.
Dortmund's 45 points from 20 fixtures represent their strongest performance at this point since the 2018-19 season.
The upcoming February showdown when Dortmund welcome Bayern carries escalating importance for the title chase.
Typically cautious, Dortmund manager Niko Kovac remarked on Thursday that his team must concentrate on their own efforts to shape outcomes.
"We control our destiny by keeping others at bay. We cannot influence what happens elsewhere," Kovac explained regarding the rivalry with Bayern.
"We trail by six points and face Bayern just once.
"Yet if greater rewards are possible, rest assured we will push to the limit."
Dortmund's sole league defeat this term occurred at Bayern, a narrow 2-1 reverse where the away side created multiple opportunities to claim at least a draw.
In their recent 3-2 victory over bottom-of-the-table Heidenheim on Sunday, Dortmund trailed and nearly conceded late points.
Versus second-from-bottom St Pauli back in January, Dortmund held a two-goal lead but required a penalty in added time to clinch the result.
"As manager, my attention lies on the play rather than the scoreline," Kovac noted.
Kovac's players could draw nearer to Bayern by finishing matches more decisively. The 2024 Champions League finalists have surrendered 10 points in the Bundesliga after leading in the closing 20 minutes.
Bayern's rivals Hoffenheim narrowly avoided the drop last year but now occupy third place this season. They have triumphed in 11 of their last 14 league outings, with only one setback.
Player to watch: Grischa Proemel (Hoffenheim)
Central to Hoffenheim's remarkable ascent from promotion battlers to third in the standings this term is midfielder Grischa Proemel's tireless energy.
Proemel has featured in all 20 of Hoffenheim's league matches, netting six times and providing two assists.
The 31-year-old's form has propelled him into discussions for a surprise inclusion in Germany's 2026 World Cup squad, though he insisted he was "not looking that far forward".
In an interview with the Bundesliga site on Friday, Proemel described Sunday's foes Bayern as "operating in another class", but emphasised: "Above all, we trust in our abilities and that we can return from Munich with points."
Key stats
22 - Harry Kane's 22 Bundesliga strikes match Kylian Mbappe's leading tally among Europe's elite leagues, though the Frenchman has one extra appearance.
73 - Since Kovac assumed control at Dortmund, the team has amassed 73 points across 34 games, a haul sufficient to claim the 2022-23 title.
50,000 - Midweek saw FC Cologne's under-19s fill their Muengersdorfer Stadium for a UEFA Youth League tie, surpassing the prior record by close to 10,000 spectators.
Fixtures (1430 GMT unless stated)
Friday
Union Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt (1930)
Saturday
Heidenheim v Hamburg, Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund, St Pauli v Stuttgart, Mainz v Augsburg, Freiburg v Werder Bremen, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (1730)
Sunday
Cologne v RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim (1630)