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Borussia Dortmund and Jürgen Klopp hope karma defeats Bayern Munich Borussia Dortmund and Jürgen Klopp hope karma defeats Bayern Munich
(about 2 hours later)
Borussia Dortmund’s fall from grace, all the way down to 15th spot in the table, might have tempted a few German newspapers to do without the “Der deutsche Clásico” headlines this year. But the buzz surrounding Saturday night’s match between league leaders Bayern Munich and their closest rivals in recent years has proved that this duel has indeed acquired classic status. Its appeal has become timeless, wholly independent of current trends and table rankings. Borussia Dortmund’s fall from grace, all the way down to 15th in the table, might have tempted a few German newspapers to do without the “Der deutsche Clásico” headlines this year. But the buzz surrounding Saturday night’s match between Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga leaders’ closest rivals in recent years has proved that this duel has indeed acquired classic status. Its appeal has become timeless, wholly independent of current trends and table rankings.
A big part of the attraction lies in the highly contrasting styles of both sides. Dortmund have not been able to keep up with Bayern domestically since winning the double in 2012 but Jürgen Klopp’s aggressive, fast-paced counterattacking team retain a unique capacity to outfox the more technical, possession-orientated Bavarians. The Black and Yellows have won three out of the last four games in the Allianz Arena, they beat Bayern 2-0 in the Super Cup in August and were extremely unlucky to lose the DFB Cup final in Berlin by the same margin in May. “Dortmund are an outstanding side and that’s the reason why we always find it difficult against them,” said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. A big part of the attraction lies in the highly contrasting styles of both sides. Dortmund have not been able to keep up with Bayern domestically since winning the double in 2012 but Jürgen Klopp’s aggressive, fast-paced counterattacking team retain a unique capacity to outfox the more technical, possession-orientated Bavarians. The Black and Yellows have won three out of their past four games at the Allianz Arena, beat Bayern 2-0 in the Super Cup in August and were extremely unlucky to lose the DFB Cup final in Berlin by the same margin in May.
“Dortmund are an outstanding side and that’s the reason why we always find it difficult against them,” said the Bayern coach, Pep Guardiola.
The visitors, for their part, are hopeful that they can carry a bit of the positive momentum of the 3-0 cup win at second-division St Pauli into the game. “This is football, there’s always a chance,” said Klopp, who will enjoy approaching this game as the underdog. Dortmund’s three wins in the Champions League have demonstrated that his side are still happiest when they can sit back and hit opponents on the break.The visitors, for their part, are hopeful that they can carry a bit of the positive momentum of the 3-0 cup win at second-division St Pauli into the game. “This is football, there’s always a chance,” said Klopp, who will enjoy approaching this game as the underdog. Dortmund’s three wins in the Champions League have demonstrated that his side are still happiest when they can sit back and hit opponents on the break.
Another away triumph would feel especially sweet in light of Bayern’s wilfully disruptive statements about a possible transfer of Dortmund winger Marco Reus. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Munich’s CEO, upset the BVB board back in August by revealing that the 25-year-old has a €25m clause that becomes active this summer - “sometimes it’s better if people would shut up,” Borussia’s sporting director Michael Zorc shot back angrily - and he hasn’t stopped fanning the flames since. A few days ago, the 59-year-old reiterated that Reus, as a “young German international” would “probably” be of interest to his club. “We will discuss this (move) internally,” Rummenigge added. Another away triumph would feel especially sweet in light of Bayern’s wilfully disruptive statements about a possible transfer of Dortmund winger Marco Reus. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Munich’s CEO, upset the BVB board back in August by revealing that the 25-year-old has a €25m clause that becomes active this summer - “sometimes it’s better if people would shut up,” Borussia’s sporting director Michael Zorc shot back angrily - and he hasn’t stopped fanning the flames since. A few days ago, the 59-year-old reiterated that Reus, as a “young German international” would “probably” be of interest to his club. “We will discuss this [move] internally,” Rummenigge added.
Klopp, who has already lost two stars in midfielder Mario Götze and striker Robert Lewandowski to Bayern in the last 16 months, maintained that he was unaffected by the champions’ unwanted advances to a third key player of his. “We don’t take any notice,” he said, adopting a philosophical stance: “I believe life is fair. If you behave badly when you’re having success, that will come back to you”. Klopp, who has already lost two stars in the midfielder Mario Götze and the striker Robert Lewandowski to Bayern in the past 16 months, maintained that he was unaffected by the champions’ unwanted advances to a third key player of his. “We don’t take any notice,” he said, adopting a philosophical stance: “I believe life is fair. If you behave badly when you’re having success, that will come back to you.”
Fear of bad karma is unlikely to stop the hard-nosed Rummenigge, however. The former Germany international feels it is almost Bayern’s patriotic duty to sign Reus rather than to see him leave to a top club abroad. Dortmund have been unable to renegotiate his contract and stopped negotiations until the winter break, which does not bode well.Fear of bad karma is unlikely to stop the hard-nosed Rummenigge, however. The former Germany international feels it is almost Bayern’s patriotic duty to sign Reus rather than to see him leave to a top club abroad. Dortmund have been unable to renegotiate his contract and stopped negotiations until the winter break, which does not bode well.
BVB CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted to missing former Bayern president Uli Hoeness. “He was always open and straightforward,” Watzke told Sky Germany. Hoeness, who is currently serving a jail sentence for tax evasion, has even emerged as an unlikely ally of Borussia in recent weeks. He has warned Guardiola and Rummenigge during their visits to Landsberg prison that Bayern were in danger of destroying their only serious Bundesliga rival. “Do you want to be champions at Christmas time?” Hoeness reportedly asked. The difference in opinion makes for an interesting test case: the resolution of the Reus saga will show how much power the 62-year-old still wields at the club. BVB’s CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, admitted to missing the former Bayern president Uli Hoeness. “He was always open and straightforward,” Watzke told Sky Germany. Hoeness, who is serving a jail sentence for tax evasion, has even emerged as an unlikely ally of Borussia in recent weeks. He has warned Guardiola and Rummenigge during their visits to Landsberg prison that Bayern were in danger of destroying their only serious Bundesliga rival. “Do you want to be champions at Christmas time?” Hoeness reportedly asked. The difference in opinion makes for an interesting test case: the resolution of the Reus saga will show how much power the 62-year-old still wields at the club.