Bayern Munich are one of the biggest clubs in the world and are also among the most successful. The Bavarian giants have won the German league title as many as 27 times in their history and the Champions League on five separate occasions. Bayern have some of the best players in the world in their current squad, including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defender Mats Hummels, striker Robert Lewandowski and winger Arjen Robben.
However, Bayern’s start to the 2017-18 season has been hugely disappointing. Given the stature of the club and the players they have, many would claim that it has been disastrous. The Munich giants have picked up just 14 points from seven matches in the Bundesliga so far this campaign and have also suffered a comprehensive defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked as the manager, and there are talks of Jupp Heynckes coming out of retirement to take over his former club until the end of the season.
One suspects that Bayern will eventually get it right in the Bundesliga, and despite their embarrassing 3-0 loss to PSG in France, FC Hollywood should be able to book a place in the last-16 stage of the Champions League as well. The Bavarian club’s early-season struggles, though, have opened the door for Borussia Dortmund to launch a challenge for the Bundesliga title. BVB last clinched the championship since 2012; since then they have finished second thrice and Bayern have won the titles.
This season was supposed to be the same in terms of the Bundesliga title, but Dortmund’s strong under Peter Bosz combined with Bayern’s problems means that there could be a proper title race. Die Borussen headed into the international break as the league leaders with 19 points from seven games, having scored as many as 21 goals and have conceded just twice.
The football that BVB have played has been stunning, and the Westfalenstadion faithful must be enjoying themselves at the moment. Bayern are still the favourites for the title, but with Dortmund just 2/1 for the championship according to latest Bundesliga betting odds, the fans should be optimistic.
Dortmund are also in the Champions League, but no one expects them to win Europe’s premier club competition. In fact, there is a chance that they may not even get out their group which includes Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur. This means that Bosz and his players will be able to concentre solely on the Bundesliga, which could give them the edge on Bayern, who are under pressure not only to win the league title in Germany but also to clinch the Champions League – or at least progress to the quarter-finals or the semi-finals.
Dortmund have the second best squad in Germany and have some of the best players in Europe. Mario Gotze, Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Shinji Kagawa are just four of them. If Dortmund remain consistent and grind out results against the tougher teams in the Bundesliga, then they should at least be able to give Bayern a run for their money.
