MUNICH-. Ten points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen and eight games to go, the team's options Bayern Munich to chain a twelfth title in the Bundesliga are starting to run out and on Saturday they will try to speed them up against the Borussia Dortmundin the star clash of the 27th date.
Usually, this duel is the top of the German championship, a 'Klassiker' that attracts everyone's attention, although this season it has been somewhat decaffeinated because the sensation of the course is Bayer Leverkusen and because Dortmund is in a discreet fourth place. place, fighting for their place in the 'Champions zone' in the face of harassment from RB Leipzig (5th, just one point away).
Any chance of fighting for the title depends on a victory in that match for Bayern. Any setback would perhaps permanently distance him from any hope, no matter how small it may be at the moment.
On the last day before the break for national team matches, striker Harry Kane collided with a post and sprained his ankle, causing him to miss both of England's friendlies in the last week.
The top scorer in the German league (31 goals), who has already broken the record for goals by a player in his first season in the Bundesliga, is key in the Munich offensive game and aims to start the Saturday.
On Monday he resumed individual exercises and on Wednesday he rejoined the collective practice of his team.
More in doubt seems to be the presence against Borussia Dortmund of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who turned 38 on Wednesday and who suffered a muscle injury in his left leg that made him drop out of the recent Germany squad.
In the two previous rounds, Bayern played before Leverkusen and tried a formula that did not work: winning to send pressure that would worry the leader, who resisted well in that war of nerves.
Bayern won both games, turning the page on their mid-February crisis, but then Bayer Leverkusen responded with victories.
Under the orders of Xabi Alonso, who this Friday confirmed his continuity at the club next season, everything is going spectacular this campaign for Bayer Leverkusen, which seems headed for its first German champion title.
Leverkusen will play on Saturday before Bayern and will do so in their BayArena stadium against Hoffenheim, eighth placed.
There are 38 games that Bayer Leverkusen has been undefeated, taking into account all competitions, a record for an elite German club.
They have not lost in an official match since the last day of the last Bundesliga and this season they are therefore undefeated, although recently in the Europa League, in the tie they won against Qarabag of Azerbaijan, they were on the verge of suffering the first setback of the season . He avoided it in the final discount.