Declaration of war from Dortmund – so what? Before the showdown in the direct duel on February 28th, pursuers BVB have a much tighter program than FC Bayern.
Munich – Sunday was free, really. No running out, no replacement player training, just dead pants on Säbener Straße – and that was a good thing. Both heads and legs of FC Bayern’s stars gratefully accepted a break after the 2-2 draw in Hamburg. In Kimmich’s house, frustration was dealt with through a large puzzle together – but in the background, every Bavarian was informed about what was happening in Dortmund, almost 500 kilometers away.
Even if BVB’s 3-2 win against Heidenheim on Sunday evening was not a highlight: the pursuer has moved within six points of last year’s top team, Bayern. The declaration of war, of course, followed promptly. “It’s six points, we want to attack now,” said national player Nico Schlotterbeck, of all people, who is being watched by Bayern, and sent a small greeting to the south: “We’ll try to be there. Maybe Bayern will now start to think again.”
Schlotterbeck: “Maybe Bayern will think about it now”
At least the time for that would be now – because looking at the past few weeks since the restart on January 11th, the schedule for the coming one shows a significant relaxation. Kompany is aware of the situation and will tackle it in the six days until the top game against surprise third-placed Hoffenheim on Sunday (5.30 p.m.) under the motto “Quality over quantity”. Please no mental cinema! Please no doubts! This Tuesday is marketing day, Thursday is another day off.
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The forces should be pooled – because it is also clear that a third league game without a win in a row would bring with it at least quiet talk of a crisis. It is obvious that the lightness of November had already evaporated in December and that the pick-packed January was now starting to lose its substance.
You can still believe words like those from Max Eberl (“This is a phase right now. We have to get through it”) and Kompany (“We will react on the pitch”). With a view to the direct duel in (!) Dortmund on February 28th, it is logical that one should not give up until then. Otherwise the championship fight could actually be exciting again.
The dramaturgs of February at least had taken precautions. But until the showdown on the final day, FC Bayern had the advantage on their side despite the five-point lead. While Munich, after seven games in January, “only” have five in February (including the cup quarter-final against RB Leipzig), BVB has seven again – with exhausting Champions League playoffs against Atalanta Bergamo.
BVB has to travel more than 2,500 kilometers, three away games and six days of travel before the direct duel, while Bayern only have to travel once before traveling to Dortmund – to Bremen (around 1,200 kilometers). Wolfsburg, Mainz and Leipzig are waiting for BVB in the league, while Bayern has Hoffenheim, Werder and Frankfurt ahead of them. A matter of opinion as to who got it better. And from Bayern’s point of view it doesn’t matter. You are (still) full of yourself and BVB – like in Kimmich’s house – is only running alongside. (hlr/pk/book)
