Bayernvs.Dortmund

Both sides are likely to have one eye on the upcoming Champions League quarter-finals in just over a week's time, but the two still have something to play for domestically.

Match preview

Hopes of a 12th straight Bundesliga title for Bayern are quickly dwindling, despite winning their last two games without conceding and by a combined 13-goal margin.

Leverkusen's incessant ability to keep winning means the gap is still 10 points between the league leaders and the reigning champions.

With 60 points, only Dortmund in 2018-19 have ever had more at this stage of a Bundesliga season and not been top of the table, which illustrates just how incredible Leverkusen's season has been.

In what could be Bayern's trickiest league game remaining, they must ensure the gap does not stretch to 13 points this week, as that would put an end to the title race once and for all.

Bayern do have a phenomenal record against Dortmund though, as Thomas Tuchel led his side to a 4-0 win over his former club at Signal Iduna Park earlier this season.

That extended a run of 16 wins in 20 meetings against Dortmund - scoring an astonishing 60 goals in the process.

More goals could be in store this weekend too, as Bayern have managed 78 in 26 games so far, averaging three-per-game, largely thanks to Harry Kane's tally of 31.

While Bayern are 10 points adrift of Leverkusen, Dortmund find themselves a further 10 points behind their upcoming opponents, as their Champions League run is the only thing keeping the heat off manager Edin Terzic.

Given the form of Stuttgart and RB Leipzig, Champions League qualification is still far from assured for next season either, with Die Roten Bullen just one point behind heading into the weekend.

With a much tougher run of games on paper, Dortmund's slender lead in fourth could be under threat this weekend, and they could drop out of the top four before they even play, with Leipzig featuring in the earlier kick-offs on Saturday.

Despite that intense pressure from Leipzig below them, Terzic's men have responded well with four straight wins, and taking anything from a fixture where they have struggled so much in the past decade would be a huge bonus.

Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:

L

L

W

D

W

W

Bayern Munich form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

W

W

Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:

W

D

L

W

W

W

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

W

W

Team News

Kane has been back in Bayern training despite leaving the England camp early with a minor injury at the weekend.

Aleksandar Pavlovic is also back on the training pitch after recovering from tonsillitis during the break, and Tuchel will hope to have Leroy Sane and Manuel Neuer available after both missed Germany duty.

Sacha Boey is set for an extended spell on the sidelines with a hamstring tear, leaving Bayern with a possible crisis at right-back as Noussair Mazraoui is still out.

There are also concerns about the fitness of Raphael Guerreiro after he did not travel with Portugal and has been training alone this week, while Kingsley Coman is set to remain out.

After featuring for Austria during the break, Marcel Sabitzer will serve the rest of his club suspension here, missing the chance to face his former side.

Ramy Bensebaini lasted just 18 minutes for Algeria before being forced off against Bolivia last week, and his season appears to be over, as he is set to join goalkeeper Gregor Kobel on the sidelines.

Julian Ryerson will return though, as he recovered from illness to play for Norway in their second fixture during the internationals.

Sebastian Haller and Felix Nmecha are both available to Terzic again in attack, and Jadon Sancho will also feature after getting plenty of training under his belt during the break.

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Ulreich; Kimmich, Dier, De Ligt, Davies; Laimer, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Musiala; Kane

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:

Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Ozcan, Can, Brandt; Sancho, Fullkrug, Malen

We say: Bayern Munich 3-1 Borussia Dortmund

With Bayern's horrific run of form in February now seemingly behind them, they will be expected to keep the title race going just a little bit longer with another win against opponents they so often get the better of.

Previews by email