Dortmund out to fight back
Berlin, Nov. 24: Crisis- hit Borussia Dortmund will look to get their crumbling season back on the rails when they face arch rivals Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, as coach Peter Bosz fights to keep his job.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich hope to consolidate their grip on top spot with a win at Borussia Moenchengladbach , while RB Leipzig host Werder Bremen. This weekend, though, all eyes will be on the Ruhr derby, as Dortmund host Schalke.
Dortmund have not won a league game since September, and have lost five of their last nine in all competitions, leaving their hopes of challenging for the title in tatters.
Having held a five- point lead at the top of the table earlier in the season, Dortmund are now nine points behind leaders Bayern, having slipped down to fifth place.
Among those to have overtaken them are local rivals Schalke, who have climbed up to second, adding even more spice to Saturday’s derby.
While Dortmund have been the dominant force in the Ruhr in recent years, the German media are now cautiously predicting a shift in power towards Schalke. In terms of both points and pride, the derby is a mustwin game for Dortmund. “We have to win on Saturday. We simply have to win,” said Bosz after Dortmund’s defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.
Bosz is under immense pressure to turn things around, his job security dwindling with every defeat. At the beginning of the week, Bild reported that the Dutchman had two games to save himself. Having been knocked out of the Champions League, Saturday’s derby may be his last stand.
Marcel Schmelzer said that the players, not the coach, were responsible for Dortmund’s calamitous defending and ineffective attack. AFP