Bundesliga Clash of Giants - Bor Dortmund host FC Bayern

 This Bunesliga season, without doubt has been full of surprises and Matchday 30 could be a climax of the season when FC Bayern takes on Borussia Dortmund today.  Borussia has the advantage, both in points and the fact that they are playing at home.  FC Bayern, which will be playing with Bastian Schweinsteiger today, has been relatively successful in their bid for the Champions League, having reached the semi-final, where they meet Real Madrid.  Most of this was done without their midfield director. 


                                                     GP     W    D    L      GF/A       Pts 
1Borussia Dortmund                    29      20    6    3       66:22       66
2Bayern München                        29      20   3     6       69:19       63

Dortmund on the other hand has been knocked out of the Champions League, but has advanced to the DFB Pokal final.  Their only focus, for the moment, is the domestic league.  This can be seen as an advantage over Bayern.   Although Mario Goetze has started training, he will  not be playing in today's contest.  Regardless, both Lewandowski and Kagawa have had rather successful runs during their 23 game undefeated streak.

FC Bayern is a seasoned team that is used to performing in high intensity games.  When on the brink, they have often prevailed and come out on top.  Regardless of the outcome, the expectations for an excellent game are high.  Gomez, Ribery, Arjen Robben and Toni Kroos will be expected to be on top of their game.  With the appearance of Bastian Schweinsteiger, the advantage would have to go to Munich, but Dortmund will not go down to defeat.

So what are the possible scenarios.

1. Bayern wins and takes the top of the Bundesliga with their better goal difference;

2.  Dortmund wins and takes a six point league, with just four games remaining, making it virtually impossible for Bayern to make up the difference, barring a disastrous end of the season for Dortmund.

3.  A draw would keep Dortmund in the lead with three points, making the end run a delight for the followers of the Bundesliga.

Here are some statistics:

There have been 85 meetings between Bayern and Dortmund.  Bayern won 38, Dortmund 21 and 26 games have ended in a draw.  Of 42 home games, Dortmund has a slight advantage of 13 to 12 over Bayern, with 17 ending in a draw.  Of 43 home games, Bayern took 26, while Dortmund took 8, while 9 games ended in a draw.   Overall Bayern outscored Dortmund 103 to 44.

Possible Line Ups:

Dortmund:  Weidenfeller - Piszcek, Subotic,, Hummels, Schmelzer - Guendogan, Kehl - Blaszcowzki, Kagawa, Grosskreutz - Lewandowski

Bayern:  Neuer - Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba - Kroos, Schweinsteiger - Robben, Mueller, Ribery - Gomez