Bayern look to maintain their slender lead, Dortmund play catch up

(Football news) Bayern look to maintain their slender lead over Dortmund when they face high flying Union Berlin. The Bavarian giants have won only two of their last five top-flight matches, while Union have won only one of their last six league games. Bayern Munich remain strong favourites to clinch their 10th successive Bundesliga title,but back-to-back 1-1 draws against Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim has provided a glimmer of hope for second-placed Borussia Dortmund to mount an unlikely title challenge.

Robert Lewandowski scored his 29th top-flight goal of the season which was cancelled out by Hoffenheim's opener scored by Christoph Baumgartner to rescue a point last weekend, but that result means they now sit just four points above Dortmund with eight games remaining. Bayern will extend their winless Bundesliga run to three matches for the first time since November 2018 if they fail to win this weekend. For Bayern, Leon Goretzka (knee), Corentin Tolisso (hamstring) and Alphonso Davies (heart condition) are all nearing returns to first-team action but quite ready to face Union Berlin as Niklas Sule has been ruled out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury.

Dortmund are trying to catch up with Bayern as they are only 4 points after their win against Mainz on Wednesday. For the second successive game, Dortmund were solid at the back and restricted their opponents to very little chance, which is something of a rarity for Dortmund this season. However, in their 1-0 triumph over struggling Arminia Bielefeld last weekend, BVB lacked much creativity in the final third and won the match somehow.

Axel Witsel was the unlikely hero just three minutes from time against Mainz, his priceless goal cut the gap between Marco Rose's side and Bayern Munich to just four points in the Bundesliga standings. Dortmund have just five wins in their last 13 meetings with FC Kolm as they are usually fighting it out at the bottom of the table and will have to grind out another hard-fought victory if they wish to maintain the pressure on the leaders. For Dortmund, Erling Braut Haaland could be in line to make his first start since January as Steffen Tigges, Thomas Meunier, Mateu Morey and Marcel Schmelzer remain out for the season who will join the likes of Manuel Akanji, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Youssoufa Moukoko on the treatment table.

Also read: AC Milan look to extend their advantage as Inter try to keep up

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