Dortmund host Hertha, Bayern out to build on mini-recovery

BERLIN: Jadon Sancho (pic) will be looking to maintain his perfect record for rampant Borussia Dortmund today when the in-form Bundesliga leaders host top-six rivals Hertha Berlin.

After Wednesday’s 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid, Dortmund have now won six games in a row and Sancho has chalked up either a goal or an assist in each of those wins.

Dortmund are three points clear at the top of the league and four points ahead of fourthplaced Bayern Munich.

The champions are still searching for their best form, with Mats Hummels complaining of “fundamental problems” in midweek.

Here are five things to look out for in the Bundesliga this weekend:

● Dazzling Dortmund

League leaders Dortmund are in such superb shape that some are already casting them as title favourites ahead of today’s tough clash with Hertha.

Lucien Favre’s team have drawn comparisons with the Juergen Klopp-era Dortmund and it is easy to see why after six thumping wins in a row.

Dortmund have scored 26 goals in their last six games, with super-subs Sancho and Paco Alcacer doing much of the damage.

“Lucien Favre gives you the feeling that you belong, even when you don’t make the team,” explained midfielder Thomas Delaney this week.

“He really gets the right balance.”

● Bayern far from their best

Mats Hummels has said that Bayern still have “fundamental” problems to deal with, as the champions look to continue their mini-recovery away to Mainz today.

Bayern had failed to win four games in a row before last weekend and despite victories over Wolfsburg and AEK Athens since then, Hummels insisted they are not out of the woods yet.

“We keep giving the ball away too easily in defence or playing unnecessary long balls,” said Hummels.

● Schalke out to end drought

Schalke are out to end their crippling goal drought away to big-hitters RB Leipzig tomorrow.

Domenico Tedesco’s side have scored just five goals in eight league games this season, and failed to take any of their 17 chances in a 0-0 draw with Galatasaray on Wednesday.

Their poor conversion rate sees last year’s runners-up stuck in the relegation playoff place, just a point off the bottom of the table.

“We need a result if we are going to start climbing up the table,” said Tedesco on Wednesday.

“This phase can’t go on forever.”