By Klaus Bergmann and Thomas Eßer, dpa
BERLIN – Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are both out for a statement victory in their Bundesliga table topper on Saturday which has extra spice after the arrival of ex-Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel at the Bayern helm.
“It’s a big game. We want to be league leaders again. Winning the game won’t make us league champions, nor will the title be out of the picture if we don’t win,” Tuchel said on Friday.
Dortmund helmsman Edin Terzic struck a similar line, saying: “We can send a signal – both to ourselves and to the competition. Tomorrow’s game can set a direction, but it won’t decide everything.”
Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann a week ago after Bayern had shown inconsistent form after the winter break and lost the league lead to Dortmund before the international break.
Tuchel, who left Dortmund in 2017 and has since been in charge at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, winning the 2021 Champions League, said he had limited time to get to know and prepare the players who only returned from international duty in mid-week.
He named his first week “work, eat, sleep, repeat. It’s just a normal day of training, but you want to take in as much as possible in such a short time. I’m very grateful to be able to have responsibility at such a high level.
“I got the feeling this week that everyone was fired up and wanted to show what they could do.”
Bayern are determined to beat Dortmund for the ninth time in a row at home in the Bundesliga to restore the pecking order by regaining the lead.
“We need a good balance and a mix of everything. Given the league table and the competition between the two sides, it will definitely be a fiery game,” Tuchel said.
Bayern are after a record-extending 11th straight Bundesliga title while Dortmund seek a first trophy since 2012.
They have dropped just two points after the winter break to turn a nine-point deficit on Bayern into a one-point lead with nine games left.
The strong run gives them confidence that they can win in Munich for the first time since 2014 and not go home humiliated like in the following years – including 2019 when they also arrived as leaders and were thumped 5-0.
“We must courageously seize our opportunities and show a different face tomorrow than we have in recent years in Munich,” Terzic said.
“What makes me particularly confident is the energy we have developed. This is because of our run, for example, and many good results. We know our chance, and we want to take it.
“We have to draw the right conclusions. We have watched Bayern games as well as the games with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea. Of course, Bayern want to show a top performance, so we have to prepare very well.”
Defender Emre Can, a standout player in Germany’s 3-2 defeat against Belgium on Tuesday, returns from suspension, while goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Julian Brandt, Salih Özcan, Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko are back from injury. But defender Nico Schlotterbeck is doubtful.
“We will see in the final training session today who will travel to Munich,” Terzic said.
On the Munich side, youngster Mathys Tel is out injured but striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who played under Tuchel at PSG, is available again after back problems.
Known as Der Klassiker, the duel is also getting worldwide attention, with the German Football League (DFL) saying that it will be broadcast in more than 200 of the 211 member countries at the ruling body FIFA.
The DFL said that there will also be public viewing events of the games in countries including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Indonesia, China and Nigeria.
