Prediction: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund

Verdict: Home win & both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/5

Bookmaker: William Hill

The Bundesliga title chase is already done and dusted, but while Bayern Munich will be looking to make amends for the unexpected loss to RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund need to try and cement their place in the top 4 and at the same time show they are still a match for the German champions.

Bayern Munich

Despite losing to RB Leipzig ahead of the international break, Bayern Munich have already secured another league title as they enter the final 7 games with 17 points to spare. The Bavarians have been quite relentless from the very start and they never gave other teams even the slightest chance of denying them the well deserved trophy. Bayern also made it to the DFB Pokal final, where they will face Bayer Leverkusen, but it is the Champions League campaign that has the priority at the moment.

The Bavarians have been without a title in Europe’s elite competition since 2013 and they will be looking to end the five-year wait this season. Even though they finished second in the group stage behind Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern went on to hammer Besiktas 8-1 in the first knockout phase and will now be vying out-of-form Sevilla for a place in the semis. And with that game coming just three days after the derby clash with Borussia, there is a chance boss Jupp Heynckes could rest some of his starters in the Saturday’s game.

Team News

Jerome Boateng is a slight doubt, but Manuel Neuer and Kingsley Coman miss out through injury, whereas James and Thiago are pushing for starts.

Borussia Dortmund

It is now clear that this will go down as a very disappointing season for Borussia Dortmund, who are out of the Bundesliga title chase, DFB Pokal, Champions League and Europa League. All that’s left now is for the team to try and achieve a top 4 finish in the league, but that will be no easy task after so many disappointments of late. Europa League exit at the hands of Red Bull Salzburg was the final nail in the coffin, although the Millionaires managed to defeat Hannover in the final game before the international break.

Borussia may be sitting in third at the moment, but they’ve got Eintracht Frakfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig breathing down their necks, so any slip ups between now and the end of the season could prove costly. Star-studded Bayern Munich are hardly desired opposition for the first match after a two-week break, but the Millionaires have no choice but to try and upset their more illustrious opponents at Allianz Arena.

Team News

Marco Reus and Omer Toprak are unlikely to recover in time, while Sebatian Rode, Andriy Yarmolenko, Erik Durm, Shinji Kagawa and Dan-Axel Zagadou are definitely out.

Key Factors to Consider

• Bayern won last three meetings with Borussia Dortmund
• The Bavarians also won last three home games vs BVB in Bundesliga
• Both teams scored in their last five meetings
• Dortmund missing quite a few important players
• Bayern unbeaten in last 35 league games on home soil (W28 D7)

Conclusion

Even though Bayern have all but secured the league trophy, they will want to get one over their arch rivals and the Bavarians are definitely superior to under-strength Borussia at the moment. We also expect the trend of both teams scoring to continue.

Verdict: Home win & both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/5

Bookmaker: William Hill