Der Klassiker #133 - Preview!
Will Borussia Dortmund be spared the indignity of handing Bayern Munich their 10th consecutive league title?
Der Klassiker is upon us and even though this is not the most storied rivalry in Germany, nor is it that significant in the last decade given Bayern’s dominance, it is a potential title decider. A win for Bayern Munich will make ten consecutive Bundesliga titles which no other club in Europe’s top 5 leagues has ever matched or exceeded. Even if Dortmund do win, it is almost inevitable that Bayern win one of their three remaining games. So with the season a foregone conclusion, what is so interesting about this particular meeting?
For Bayern, this will likely be the last time they win a title in their current form. A dark cloud has followed them around all season due to many unanswered questions about expiring contracts. Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, and Serge Gnabry have all run their current deals down to the final year, and given Bayern’s substantial losses during COVID, it isn’t going to be possible to re-sign all four.
The main reason for this is that Germany had very strict rules during lockdown and German clubs played more matches behind closed doors than clubs in other leagues. Bayern is said to have lost €3 million per matchday without a crowd at the Allianz Arena. Despite turning a modest profit of €1.9 million for 2021, they turned a €52.9 million profit in 2019. Having that sort of money now would go a long way towards new contracts.
It’s also a consequence of the German ownership model. 50+1 maintains the integrity of the club by keeping billionaire owners out, but it also means there isn’t someone who can just write you a check to cover your losses.
Something else to be considered is that these players could feel that they’ve now achieved everything they can at Bayern and would like a new challenge. Serge Gnabry has won three Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals, two DFL-Supercups, the Champions League, the UEFA Supercup, and a Club World Cup. How could he possibly improve his reputation in a Bayern shirt? He’ll be 27 at the start of next season and can find a bigger challenge and bigger contract elsewhere. The same could be said of Robert Lewandowski who hasn’t slowed down a bit as he approaches 34 and has scored 339 goals in all competitions across 8 seasons in Munich.
Both of them can look at David Alaba who left for Real Madrid after the end of last season when Bayern couldn’t meet his wage demands and see a player on his way to a La Liga title and in the Champions League semifinal and also rolling in a pile of money. Meanwhile, things back home seem to have stalled out. Winning the league doesn’t feel special anymore and they were dumped out of the DFB-Pokal in the second round 5-0 by Borussia Monchengladbach back in October. They only managed one goal across two legs of their Champions League quarterfinal match up against Villarreal.
There is enough smoke to worry about fire now. What remains to be seen is can Bayern’s rivals, to the extent that they truly have any, capitalize on any weaknesses. Borussia Dortmund chief among them.
It’s been a bad season for Dortmund. They’ve kept it relatively close in the table but inconsistent form due to injuries and defensives frailties meant they were never going to take advantage of Bayern’s relatively shakiness. A Round of 16 exit in the DFB-Pokal to everyone’s favorite leftist club St. Pauli and a humiliating 6-4 aggregate loss to everyone’s least favorite fascist club Rangers in the Europa League after failing to make it out of their group in the Champions League.
There have been some things to feel good about, of course. When Dortmund are clicking they’re incredible to watch in full flow. Marco Reus has managed to turn back the clock a few times and shown the kind of form he did back when he was one of the best players in the world. Jude Bellingham’s continued development has been excellent and he’s on his way to being one of the most complete midfielders in Europe and still just 18.
The injuries have been the biggest problem by far and none more so than the lingering issue that has sidelined Erling Haaland. If the rumors are to be believed he’s off to Manchester City in just a few weeks, but there may be some type of minor surgery first. He’s tried to keep a lid on the problem because he knows how much money is at stake and among Dortmund fans there is a belief that he’s still carrying an injury now.
Haaland is back in action and will play Saturday, but as of Thursday, there are eleven names on Dortmund’s injury list on Transfermarkt that range from Axel Witsel’s infection beginning April 21st to Marcel Schmelzer’s knee surgery July 15, 2020. This is something that can be addressed in the off season either in the form of new medical staff, different training methods, or a deeper squad for more rotation. Replacing the 18 goals and 8 assists Haaland has provided in 17.3 90s is a different matter altogether.
So is that it? That the biggest selling point of this match is that the best striker in the world will face his heir apparent and neither of them will be at these clubs next season? Yes, but it’ll also be an excellent game of football. I forgot to mention that.
You can watch Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund Saturday 4/23 on ESPN+ in America at 12:30pm EST. It’s $6.99 a month and has every Bundesliga game it’s worth it for that alone don’t give me a speech about “Oh I could never support Disney.” Just watch the games. Come on.