Dortmund look to bounce back against Union Berlin and Bayern face Bochum

(Football news) The week started with RB Leipzig winning 3-1 against FC Koln. Dortmund on the other hand will look to bounce back after their embarrassing loss against Bayer Leverkusen whilst the hosts Union Berlin who have an outside chance of remaining inside the Champions League places despite losing their form over the last few weeks. Dortmund’s catastrophic 5-2 defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park last Sunday all but ended their hopes of catching Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga. Along with Bayern's 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig last week saw Marco Rose's side fall nine points off the pace. The absence of Erling Braut Haaland from the side was not ideal but Rose’s side would have expected a much better performance from his side considering his team even without Haaland still looked strong and also the importance of the fixture should have inspired his side to play well.

Rose has a big task as he must somehow raise the spirits of his players ahead of a difficult trip to Union , it is the same venue where they have lost on their two competitive visits across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns. With Bayern who most likely look to extend their lead at the top to 12 points in their trip to against the relegation-threatened VfL Bochum. Dortmund's focus must now switch to maintaining their hold on a top-two finish when the leagues are over, with third-placed Leverkusen now only five points behind, and fifth-placed Freiburg within 10 points of Dortmund. For Dortmund only long-term absentee duo of Mateu Morey and Marcel Schmelzer will be missing.

Bayern will look to assert their position in the league, they are already 9 points clear of Dortmund with only 13 matches in the campaign as they will face VFL Bochum. Julian Nagelsmann sealed the double over his former team, after the Bavarians defeated RB Leipzig 3-2 at the Allianz Arena .Bayern were certainly made to work hard for the three points, but they just about performed well enough to seal the three points and extend their lead at the Bundesliga summit to nine points, following Borussia Dortmunds humiliating 5-2 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen a day later.

With only 13 games remaining in the season they will begin with the trip to Bochum on Saturday, now it looks like Bayern are going to cruise to their 10th straight title again as is the case in Bavaria, there will be no signs of panic in their camp over the coming weeks. Lewandowski and co will be keen and confident in adding to their staggering 68 league goals already netted in the opening 21 games. For Bayern first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury that required surgery and Jamal Musiala is in COVID-19 isolation so he will miss the trip, as will Leon Goretzka, Alphonso Davies and Josip Stanisic

Also read: Inter Milan face Napoli in a top of the clash as AC Milan look to take advantage

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