Buoyant Dortmund ready to break Bavarians Bundesliga stranglehold

BERLIN, Aug 15, (RTRS): Champions Bayern Munich are preparing for their toughest Bundesliga season in years with title rivals Borussia Dortmund looking to avoid another mid-season slip-up and break the Bavarians’ sevenyear Bundesliga stranglehold.

Bayern, who last failed to win the title when Dortmund were champions in 2011-12, kick off the season against Hertha Berlin on Friday, having bolstered their defence with World Cupwinning French duo Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard.

Overall, though, they have been less successful than Dortmund in the transfer market, having failed to sign several players of their choice, including Manchester City’s Leroy Sane.

The arrival this week of 30-year-old winger Ivan Perisic as a replacement for departed veterans Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben was seen by many as a desperate Plan B before the transfer window closes on Sept 2.

Coach Niko Kovac, who led Bayern to the domestic double in his first season, knows very well what it is like to be considered second rate.

His arrival last year as a relatively young coach after big names, including Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, had led Bayern over the previous seasons was seen by many as a cheap option.

Kovac was desperately clinging on to his job in December when Dortmund were nine points clear of Bayern but a recovery after the winter break and a slump in form from their title rivals helped secure the double.

“I was also a Plan B (last season),” Kovac joked this week. “And then I won the double. (On Perisic) we acted within this short time frame.”

Perisic was signed after City’s Sane needed surgery for cruciate ligament damage and a potential move to Bayern fell through.

Bayern vs Hertha beIN SPORTS

5HD

Dortmund vs Augsburg beIN

SPORTS 5HD

Leverkusen vs Paderborn beIN

SPORTS MAX 5HD

Wolfsburg vs Koln beIN SPORTS

MAX 6HD