BORUSSIA DORTMUND BOSS Lucien Favre says the outcome of Saturday’s clash with Bayern Munich will not decide which club wins the Bundesliga title.
Dortmund travel to Munich with a two-point advantage over their title rivals, Bayern having dropped points against Freiburg last time out.
With only six games to play after this weekend’s match at the Allianz Arena, a win would be a huge boost for either side.
However, Favre expects a few more twists and turns before the end of the campaign.
“This game is very special: Bayern v Dortmund,” he told a media conference. “The table is close, seven games remain, and two great teams.
If we win, nothing is decided, if we draw, nothing is decided, if we lose nothing is decided…it is completely open!”
Bayern come into the game after a less-than impressive 5-4 victory over second-tier Heidenheim in the DFB-Pokal, and Favre says he has spotted some areas Dortmund can exploit.
“Like all teams, they do have some weaknesses,” he added. “Every team has that, even the best teams in the world.
“But [they do not have] too many, not many. And they have a lot of strengths of course, we know that.
“We have to concentrate on a lot of things.”
Sporting director Michael Zorc is confident BVB can go to Munich and get a result, particularly given they came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 in the first meeting of the season.
We showed that in the first match this season that we are able to win against them and can come back after a deficit,” he said.
“We had a look at the statistics since 2011 and we’ve won five times in Munich, including DFB-Pokal.
But the players from today don’t really care about the past years. We do need a top performance and courage to survive there, that’s for sure.
“So we need a top performance and one that is better than the one we showed last week.”
Favre will make a late decision on the fitness of Paco Alcacer prior to the clash, with Lukasz Piszczek also a doubt.
“It’s difficult to determine now, but we think there is a chance he [Alcacer] will play,” added the coach. “We will know more tomorrow.
“With Piszczek, we will decide whether he joins the squad after tomorrow’s training session.
“Abdou Diallo ran today as well, his condition will be decided tomorrow too.”
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Well done. Hopefully they can retain the Koh Samui cup this summer
@Luke: absolute horseplay
@Niall Boyle: absolutely sending it!
Would be very disappointed if 6 of the Blackrock squad aren’t capped by Ireland this summer
@Niall Boyle: and you’ll be begging for the other 9 players
@Niall Boyle: bit early for that under 20s first i would of taught
@SEAN: expect a solicitors letter for a derogatory comment like that
Tremendous game, albeit defence-dominated, well worth a watch by those who can. Munster fans would enjoy another top performance by Michael O’Sullivan, the Blackrock openside
@Kevin Ryan: agreed. I thought that lad was excellent. Is he a Munster kid?
@Jack Kirwan: From Kerry apparently, and definitely in the Munster system. So, for example, played for Munster against Leinster in the U19 interpro last August
Just get into leinster academy and be capped by capped by ireland within 2 years
Shame it was in Tallaght can’t believe people actually live in that kip. Still serious horseplay with the lads.