Mueller: Dortmund clash crucial

Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller feels his side’s upcoming Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund could decide who wins this year’s title.

Bayern have been in fine form of late and have now crept to within three points of the reigning champions.

Mueller does not believe Dortmund, who were seven points clear at one point, are cracking but the 22-year-old thinks that if Bayern prevail at the Westfalenstadion next Wednesday, Jupp Heynckes’ men will go on to take the title.

“Dortmund have shown in the Bundesliga that they can respond well when they are under pressure,” Mueller told Sport-Bild.

“Hence, the title fight is still a very close one. The game in Dortmund is crucial and that is our focus. It will determine where we go.

“But everything is in our hands. If we win all our games, we will be champions.”

Bayern still have a chance of recording a treble, having already set up a DFB-Pokal final clash with Dortmund and secured their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League by completing a 4-0 aggregate win over Marseille on Tuesday.

Their schedule is now looking more than a little hectic but the attacking midfielder believes Bayern have already proven that they can cope with the extra games.

“In terms of recuperation, the Dortmund game will put us at a disadvantage,” he said.

“But Bayern have shown in recent years that if we are on a run, the three-day cycle is not a disadvantage for us. We seized our chances in 2010 and almost won a treble.”

The Bavarians won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal two years ago but were beaten by Inter in the final of the Champions League.