The Bayern boss has only managed one win in 11 Bundesliga meetings with Dortmund, while his points-per-game average of 0.64 is the lowest he has against any opposition. Beating Bayern would see them equal their club record of 12 consecutive home league victories, and few would argue it’s impossible: with 30 points from 13 games, this is their third-best start to a season in the era of three points for a win.Ĭonsider, too, Julian Nagelsmann’s record against Dortmund. After all, Dortmund have won seven home games in a row at the start of this season, something they have never achieved before.

Perhaps things will be different this time. There are some great rivalries in the Bundesliga, but this game is truly a German institution. Plus, Dortmund have fit-again Erling Haaland back among the goals, and ready to give chase to Lewandowski’s goalscoring benchmark.Īfter the Ballon d’Or disappointment, and with Dortmund and Haaland breathing down his neck, this would be a good time for Lewandowski to start laying a claim for the 2022 prize… Bayern are only a point above Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table, suggesting that maybe, just maybe, a real title race is on the cards again.

There’s the small matter of the Klassiker on Saturday. Now isn’t the time for Lewandowski to dwell on disappointment, though. And it was only good enough for second place.

And all after winning the treble the season before. Robbed of the chance to claim it last year when France Football cancelled it – hence Messi’s magnanimous suggestion to the organisers – Lewandowski suited up for this year’s gala having scored 53 goals in all competitions in 2021, at least 15 more than anyone else, with a new single-season Bundesliga scoring record in his pocket and yet another league title with Bayern Munich. Whatever your views on the Ballon d’Or this year, chances are you saw Messi beating Robert Lewandowski to the prize and thought it was at least worthy of discussion. Even Lionel Messi used his victory speech to suggest France Football issue a retrospective 2020 award. Lothar Matthäus”doesn’t understand the world anymore” – whatever that means. Thomas Muller said it was “definitely a disappointment”. Robert Lewandowski must put Ballon d’Or disappointment behind him – Borussia Dortmund and Erling Haaland have ambitions of their own.

Tally 9.1