FC Bayern heads into the Bundesliga classic against Borussia Dortmund as the league leader. Despite their strong position, however, sporting director Max Eberl expects a closely contested match on Saturday night. Ahead of the head-to-head clash, the 52-year-old expressed admiration for BVB’s progress and warned against underestimating their rivals.
Munich aims to solidify its lead in the standings with a home win and widen the gap over the Black and Yellows. The record champions’ management is well aware that this won’t be a walk in the park.
At the press conference ahead of the classic match, Eberl spoke at length about Dortmund’s on-field situation. The Bayern boss had nothing but praise for the upcoming opponent.
“Right now, we’re neck and neck in the standings.”
“We have great respect for Dortmund. We also won in Dortmund last season, even if it was a close one. They were already in good form last season and are continuing that now,” Eberl explained, according to Bayern’s official website.
The sporting director continues to view BVB as one of Bayern’s most important domestic rivals. He noted that the direct rivalry between the two clubs serves as an added incentive.
“This is a classic matchup in Germany; they always challenge us and push us to be better,” emphasized the 52-year-old.
At the same time, Eberl made it clear that, despite their respect for Dortmund, the Munich team is going into the match with a clear goal.
“We want to win and build a lead over BVB. Right now, we’re neck and neck in the standings.”
This gives FC Bayern the opportunity to send an important message in the title race through this head-to-head matchup.
Danks warns about Dortmund’s defense
Aaron Danks, who is standing in for head coach Vincent Kompany—who remains sidelined—also expects a challenging task. “This is a big game that will be watched all over the world,” the Englishman explained.
Preparations for the big match are in full swing at the record champions. However, Danks did not announce any major tactical surprises. “There won’t be any major changes; we’re ready for the game,” the assistant coach clarified.
BVB’s defensive solidity, in particular, has made an impression on Bayern. “Defensively, they’re very strong; they don’t concede many goals,” Danks analyzed.
At the same time, the Englishman warned against reducing Dortmund solely to their defensive play. After all, Niko Kovac’s team also has numerous dangerous players on offense.
“But Dortmund also has good attackers; I know some of them from my time in England,” explained the Bayern coach.
It will therefore be crucial for Munich to stay focused throughout the entire match. “We have to be ready to give our best performance in every phase of the game,” Danks emphasized.
The message from Munich is thus clear: FC Bayern is heading into the classic match with confidence, but is well aware of BVB’s strengths.
With a win, Munich could extend its lead over Dortmund and further solidify its position at the top of the standings. However, no one expects an easy task against the record champions.