Lewandowski versus Haaland – melancholy at the last duel of the giants
“That’s the task” – BVB wants to prevent premature Bayern championship
BVB goes into the top game against FC Bayern with the last squad. Here coach Marco Rose explains how he wants to prevent Munich from winning the championship early – and what role the duel between Haaland and Lewandowski plays.
In the top game between FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund it is time to say goodbye. One last time there is a showdown between the top scorers Lewandowski and Haaland. There will not be another duel between the two in the Bundesliga.
Pep Guardiola reacted politely but firmly. “Sorry, but I won’t answer your question,” said the Manchester City manager. It is well known that he does not comment on transfer speculation, the Catalan explained. Word should have gotten around among English journalists too.
However, they have been penetrating a topic for weeks: the apparently imminent move from Erling Haaland to the Premier League leaders. It was even reported that the Borussia Dortmund striker had already reached an agreement with the “Citizens”. Figures bordering on the obscenity are circulating: The 21-year-old is said to earn up to 35 million euros in Manchester – per year. In addition to a transfer fee of at least 75 million euros for BVB, there would also be up to 50 million euros in commissions for Haaland’s advisors and a so-called “signing fee” for the player.
Even for Oliver Kahn and Bayern, these are “dimensions beyond our imagination”. The CEO of the German record champions, who has repeatedly been accused of being interested in Haaland, currently has other concerns anyway.
He’s fighting to keep his own top scorer: Robert Lewandowski, who will probably receive the top scorer’s cannon for the fifth time in a row at the end of the season, is also playing big gambles. The 33-year-old’s contract runs for another season. Kahn rules out a sale next summer. But who knows what can happen when there is so much money at stake?
Lewandowski and Haaland have a lot in common
It is quite possible that the last meeting between the two top strikers in a Bundesliga game will take place on Saturday evening (6.30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) at the summit meeting between Bayern and BVB. At least once again, Lewandowski and Haaland can promote the German elite class worldwide.
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The two attackers have a lot in common, but cross-comparison is still difficult. On the one hand, there is Bayern’s still perfectly functioning goal machine. Even after well over a decade at the top level, Lewandowski simply never tires. The Pole rarely owed anything, especially in important games. On Saturday he will contest the so-called German classic for the 24th time: Lewandowski played eight times with BVB against Bayern and 15 times with Bayern against Dortmund. He scored 23 goals – 22 for Bayern and one for BVB. Haaland will probably never come close to that – because his stay in Germany will probably be limited to only two and a half years.
Lewandowski, who has scored 32 goals this season, is extremely important for Bayern. For the fifth time he has surpassed the 30-goal mark per game year. Nevertheless, Haaland also shaped BVB in a comparatively relatively short time. “Both are absolutely decisive factors in their teams, albeit due to partly different strengths,” says Marco Rose.
With his experience, Lewandowski “now handles all facets of the game,” says the Dortmund coach. He plays very well and a lot, knows how to let go at the right moments. “He offers a complete package,” says Rose. Haaland, on the other hand, is still in a development process.
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What particularly distinguishes the 1.94 meter giant is his speed and his thirst for goals. “He’s an absolute weapon when it comes to offensive transitions. As soon as the ball is played towards the goal for him, he knows exactly what he has to do,” explains Rose. In fact, Haaland only needed an average of 87 minutes for a goal in his 63 Bundesliga games – in this statistic he is ahead of Lewandowski, who needs 99 minutes for a goal.
The following applies to both exceptional strikers: They should be extremely difficult to replace. This worries Rose. “When you lose players of this quality and with this percentage, it always does something to a team,” he says. It’s just not enough to find a high-quality replacement. The gameplay needs to be modified.
The fate of BVB could also threaten FC Bayern
The Dortmunders know such frictional losses. When Lewandowski went to Bayern in 2015, they believed they were prepared. They had signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a year earlier. He should grow into his role as a centre-forward. In addition, Ciro Immobile was brought in. But when Lewandowski was actually gone, a phenomenon became noticeable that nobody had reckoned with: The team still played as if they had a combination-safe Lewandowski in the center of attack. It has been a troubled season. Dortmund only emancipated themselves in the following season.
Erling Haaland needs 87 minutes per goal in the Bundesliga (58 goals in total). Robert Lewandowski needed 99 minutes (total 309 goals)
Credit: pa / SVEN SIMON / Waelischmiller Hoermann SVEN SIMON
This fate could repeat itself in year one after Haaland – and it could also threaten Bayern. Because without Lewandowski the game will change. “I would have extended his contract much earlier,” said Lothar Matthäus.
Germany’s record national player (150 appearances) expressly warned Munich against letting Lewandowski go. He is not only a guarantee for goals, but also for durability and robustness. He even has this advantage over the much younger Haaland. “And that’s why BVB didn’t play consistently this season,” said Matthäus.
