In Bundesliga, the excitement similar to this one hasn’t been felt since 2009, 14 years ago. Then, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg were toe-to-toe until the last day. Then, in 2019, with three games to go, Borussia Dortmund was just two points behind the Bavarians. And this season, also with three games to go, the Millionaires are just one point away. In fact, they were at the top of the table in Week 29, only to lose the lead a week after. It will surely be a hell of a finish this season too. Both clubs will fight to the end, and this week, the Bavarians have the easiest schedule (on paper): they are hosting relegation-struggling Schalke, while Borussia is at home against their namesake Monchengladbach.1 – After 31 games of this Bundesliga season, FC Bayern are only one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund – the last time it was this close at the top after 31 games of a Bundesliga season was 14 years ago, when in 2008/09, VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern were tied at the top. Exciting. pic.twitter.com/UAZQ4nD0vj— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) May 8, 2023 Both clubs have their good and weak sides. With the Bavarians, quite surprisingly, it’s the attack. Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane have not enjoyed so much goals recently, and even Leon Goretzka, a rock in the middle of the field is out of form. Dayot Upamecano has made some terrible mistakes in defense and it will be interesting to see if Thomas Tuchel puts him straight into the lineup after coming back from injury. In Dortmund, defense is as shaky as ever, no matter who plays and who the coach is, but in attack, Karim Adeyemi (21 goals) and Jude Bellingham (19) are at their peak. Unlike them, Julian Brandt had a great season, but was quiet during April.Bayern’s captain is going nowhere, says club’s CEOIn the injury department, Borussia is far better. Only the young Englishman Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is out for the season with a shoulder injury, while Munich had more problems. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has started to train, but he won’t play in these three remaining matches. Alphonso Davis is also out, as well as Lucas Hernandez and Josip Stanisic, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has knee problems. On the other hand, the experience is on the side of the current champion. Thomas Muller has 11 Bundesliga titles, Neuer 10, Coman 10, while in Borussia only Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule can boast with titles, but they won them with Bayern.Marca says ‘done deal’: Real Madrid king BellinghamAs far as the schedule is concerned, Bayern is in better position. They have two home games remaining, with Schalke and Leipizg, which is their trickiest game left, while on the last day, they travel to the 11th placed Koln. Borussia however is hosting Monchengladbach and very unpredictable Mainz at home, while they travel to Augsburg, where they haven’t won in four games. Both clubs have their off the field issues, but Bayern is again the leader here. The Bavarians could face a change of the whole executive board (Oliver Kahn, Hasan Salihamidzic) if the title is not won, while in Dortmund they need to find a replacement for Jude Bellingham, who will most certainly leave for Real Madrid, while Mats Hummels might leave the club as a free agent. BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 32Friday 21.30: (2.05) Koln (3.45) Hertha (3.60)Saturday 16.30: (2.30) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.50) Mainz (3.35)16.30: (2.24) Bochum (3.45) Augsburg (3.25)16.30: (1.17) Bayern (10.5) Schalke (17.0)16.30: (2.35) Union Berlin (3.25) Freiburg (3.50)16.30: (2.00) Wolfsburg (3.50) Hoffenheim (3.77)19.30: (1.29) Dortmund (7.00) M’ gladbach (12.0)Sunday 16.30: (2.65) Stuttgart (3.35) Leverkusen (2.70)18.30: (1.31) RB Leipzig (5.90) Werder (9.50)***odds are subject to change***
