Bayern blues boost rivals

– It might be only six rounds in, but Bayern Munich’s wobbles – along with some impressive performances from their rivals – have threatened to breathe new life into the 2018/19 Bundesliga title race.

Second-placed Bayern take on fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach tonight, but may start the match four points off the pace if leaders Borussia Dortmund win their afternoon fixture against mid-table Augsburg.

Given the congestion at the top of the table, if Munich fall to Gladbach, they could end the round in sixth – increasing the pressure on new coach Niko Kovac (above) to turn it around ahead of the international break.

Bayern fans will be hoping coach Kovac has the answers. After Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Ajax in the Champions League.

“I need to sort out my thoughts and work out why we performed like that,” Kovac said.

Strong starts to the season from Dortmund, Gladbach and Werder Bremen – along with Bayern’s recent vanquishers Hertha Berlin – have meant that only three points separate first from sixth in the table.

Dortmund, the only unbeaten team left in the Bundesliga, have started the year on fire under new coach Lucien Favre.

Favre has kept his reputation for blooding promising youngsters intact, with Christian Pulisic, 20, Jacob Bruun Larsen, 20, and Jadon Sancho, 18, all impressing under their new boss. Sancho on Thursday earned himself an England call-up after re-signing with Dortmund until 2022.

Led by captain Marco Reus, BVB have struck a rich vein of form, scoring 14 goals in their last three matches.

However for those hoping for some respite from Bayern’s recent dominance, it’s worth remembering some recent history.

At the same time last season, Munich were sitting three points behind Dortmund in third position. The club took decisive action, sacking coach Carlo Ancelotti and signing former manager Jupp Heynckes for the latter’s fourth stint at the club.

They went on to claim victory in 23 of the remaining 28 games, winning the Bundesliga for a record 27th time. –

I need to sort out my thoughts and work out why we performed like that.

Niko Kovac Bayern Munich coach