E-Paper
Champions League dress rehearsal for Bayern, Dortmund
At any other moment in the last three years a Bundesliga encounter between already-crowned champions Bayern Munich and arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund would be a season highlight yet their Saturday clash is nothing more than an awkward moment. Long playijng record
At any other moment in the last three years a Bundesliga encounter between already-crowned champions Bayern Munich and arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund would be a season highlight yet their Saturday clash is nothing more than an awkward moment.
Germany's top two teams have a much bigger trophy in their sights when they meet in the Champions League final on May 25 after brushing aside Spain's Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Bayern's 3-0 win at Barcelona for a 7-0 aggregate victory on Wednesday came a day after Dortmund eased past Real despite a 2-0 loss to set up the first all-German final in the
competition. "This thing with Bayern now is a funny constellation," said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp. "We will have to see how we can do it."
Berth assured
His second-placed team are assured a Champions League spot next season while Bayern, chasing a treble of trophies which also includes the German Cup, clinched the league title weeks ago with a handful of games to spare.
With Klopp's team facing their biggest game in 16 years at Wembley stadium on May 25, the 45-year-old could be forgiven for putting the league derby on the backburner.
The coach will most likely be without Mario Goetze, who has agreed to join Bayern at the end of the season, after he pulled a muscle and limped off early in the first half against Real.
Four players out
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes says Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are out with knocks sustained on Wednesday. Bayern has not beaten Dortmund in five league games but is on a record 14-game winning streak.
