Der Klassiker: A social distancing lesson

         Title number eight in a row is within touching distance for Bayern Munich following a professional performance against challengers Borussia Dortmund. As half-time approached, an inventive Joshua Kimmich chip caught out Roman Burki to give Bayern the games only goal, all three points and a seven-point cushion at the top of the table. In a momentous round of midweek fixtures everything seemed to fall perfectly for the Bavarian giants. Within two hours of Dortmund’s slip-up, Bayer Leverkusen threw away their chance to go within eight-points of the league leaders with a resounding 4-1 loss at home to Wolfsburg. The following evening RB Leipzig’s 2-2 stalemate with Hertha Berlin cost them the opportunity of taking second place, six-points from Munich. Prior to the ‘Klassiker’ showdown Bayern manager Hansi Flick insisted the result, either way it went, would not determine the league title, yet with just six fixtures remaining it feels like a forgone conclusion. 

            Although covid-19 restrictions limited the Westfalenstadion to just three-hundred capacity, ‘Der Klassiker’ could well have amassed historical viewing figures with millions of people tuning in to watch the climactic closing weeks of Germany’s topflight. With closed-door limitations effecting results around the country, few teams miss the backing of home support like Borussia Dortmund. The intimidating ‘Yellow Wall’ wasn’t in attendance to steer Dortmund to victory. Dortmund started off well and within thirty seconds Erling Haaland registered a shot on target albeit it a tame effort. Manuel Neuer’s sweeper-keeper antics almost haunted him after his clearance struck Davies, allowing Haaland to pick the ball up on the edge of the box and get a soft shot on goal, however Boateng was on the goal-line to clear the danger. Bayern responded well to Dortmund’s fast start and soon it was the home side who needed cover on the goal-line. Kingsley Coman drifted in behind the Dortmund defence and created space out-wide to get a cross in. Mahmoud Dahoud left Serge Gnabry unattended in the six-yard box and the German winger slid the ball beyond Burki in the goal, but captain Lukasz Piszczek was on hand to divert the danger. If the challengers Dortmund were to take anything from the game, they knew they would have to pull-off the impossible and beat Bayern Munich in midfield. Dortmund started bright but Dahoud and Tom Delaney in the centre of midfield couldn’t push forward enough and failed to dictate possession. When Dortmund succeed it’s often through their ability to get the ball from central midfield, down the channels and feed the hungry Haaland up top. With Delaney and Dahoud unable to move the ball wide Dortmund suffered. Brandt and Hazard couldn’t generate as many chances leaving Haaland isolate throughout. Bayern Munich allowed Dortmund to run at them in the opening stages but soon established themselves in midfield, keeping possession and hitting them out wide on the break. Full backs Davies and Pavard joined in with the attacking waves allowing the wingers (Gnabry and Coman) to accompany Lewandowski in the box. It appeared the visitors were playing their opponents at their own game. Bayern began to press more as the first half wound down and were rewarded for their efforts in the 43^rd minute. Kimmich won the ball on the edge of the Dortmund box and following a lovely passing triangle with Coman and Muller received it back, before expertly lobbing Burki from the edge of the area. Questions could be asked of both Burki, who managed to get a glove to the ball and of Dortmund for abandoning Kimmich in such a dangerous position.

            Despite the importance of three points for Dortmund it was the away team who almost found the net after the restart. Thomas Muller was his usual self, scrambling all over the field to get as involved as possible. Muller sat back, allowing Goretzka to move forward and force a save out of Burki from long-range. Haaland had one final chance before being replaced. Hazard laid the ball off for the Norwegian, but his strike deflected off Boateng and out for a corner kick. Replays suggested an arm may have been used by the defender but with little to no appeals for a penalty, play resumed. Sancho had entered the action at half-time but couldn’t conjure up anything from the wing. The speed in which Bayern tracked back to defend and counterattack once getting the ball back was sensational. Haaland hadn’t offered much for his side but by the time Giovanni Reyna was subbed on in place of him, Dortmund had run out of ideas. At 1-0 down, with the title slipping out of reach, Dortmund didn’t play with the urgency required. A full backing of the 80,000+ Westfalenstadion may have changed the outcome, we'll never know. As the final whistle went, so too did Dortmund’s faint title aspirations.

            Should Kimmich’s iconic chip against Dortmund be the defining moment in this Bundesliga season it would be a fitting testament to Bayern’s philosophy. Their philosophy that players alternate positions, establish themselves in various areas of the field to support one another. This club took a young left-wing Bastian Schweinsteiger and polished him into one of the greatest central midfielders to grace German football. Bayern may well have the greatest squad depth in world football, and this is largely down to how they adjust personnel. Tuesday evenings potential title clinching starting line-up consisted of three players vacating their natural positions. Kimmich, the goal scorer, began life as a right back before being moulded into a key holding midfielder. Alphonso Davies (originally left wing) has impressed at left back whilst David Alaba (natural left back, turn centre midfielder) has slotted in at centre back. Munich’s squad depth is highlighted by those who don’t frequently feature. Ivan Perisic (World Cup Finalist), Lucas Hernandez (Eighty-million Euro signing) and Javi Martinez (World Cup Winner) were all substitutes in Tuesdays victory. Munich have gone about their business so routinely that the absence of world class talent such as Phillipe Coutinho, Thiago Alcantara, Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso has gone unnoticed.

Credit is due to Lucien Favre and his young side for consistently cranking up the heat on Bayern Munich. Dortmund seldom splurge on major transfer fees like their rivals. Within the previous two seasons their formidable forward line of Jadon Sancho (eight million), Thorgan Hazard (twenty-five million), Julian Brandt (twenty-five million) and Erling Haaland (twenty million) doesn't equate to Bayern Munich’s eighty million Euro fee paid for Lucas Hernandez, a man with just sixteen appearances in German football. Borussia Dortmund needn’t be ashamed of Tuesdays game, or the entire campaign for that matter, this club are consistently punching above their weight against one of football’s powerhouse clubs. Like in many years gone by, Dortmund are constructing a championship calibre team. A reoccurring theme, however, is of Bayern Munich and other elite European sides picking at the carcass of BVB. If Favre can maintain this young group who knows what the future may bring, but for the time being, Bayern Munich continue to stick to their seven-year social distancing at the summit of German football.