Lewandowski aims to put one over old mates

– Robert Lewandowski (right) is set to return to action for Bayern Munich this weekend as they look to score an important victory over troubled title rivals Borussia Dortmund.

The Polish star missed Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Celtic with a back problem, but is expected to be fit to face his former club at Signal Iduna Park today.

The game is an opportunity to extend their lead in the title race and heap more misery on a Dortmund side currently in crisis.

Despite injuries to Lewandowski, Franck Ribery and

Berlin

Thomas Mueller, Bayern have turned things around since Carlo Ancelotti was sacked at the end of September.

Under Jupp Heynckes, the champions have won six games out of six. They have overturned Dortmund’s five-point advantage to claim top spot in the Bundesliga, notched up league and cup victories over RB Leipzig, and secured qualification to the last-16 of the Champions League.

Dortmund, by contrast, have endured a disastrous few weeks. Peter Bosz’s side have won just one of their last six games, dropping to second after defeats to both RB Leipzig and Hanover 96.

Consecutive draws against APOEL Nicosia have compounded their misery, destroying any hope of qualification from their Champions League group.

The crisis has coincided with a goal drought for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese has failed to score in his last five appearances for Dortmund.

The team’s biggest problem, though, remains the defence. Dortmund have conceded nine goals in their last three league games, leading to criticism of Bosz’s tactical approach in the German media.

Bosz is expected to make several changes to the team which faced APOEL in midweek, with Marcel Schmelzer, Andriy Yarmolenko and Gonzalo Castro set to return to the starting line-up.

Jerome Boateng and Kingsley Coman are expected to defy injury concerns and start for Bayern, while former Dortmund defender Mats Hummels will also return to action, having been rested in Glasgow in midweek.

Like Lewandowski, Hummels will be hoping that he can deal his old club a significant blow in the Bundesliga title race. –