The best match in the Bundesliga on Saturday

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From the point of view of Borussia Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke, the duel with FC Bayern Munich is the ultimate match in the Bundesliga. “This is the match between the two clubs which have by far the most appeal in Germany. And if you don’t recognize it, you should consult an ophthalmologist, » Watzke said on the pay TV channel « Sky » before the showpiece match on Saturday (6:30 p.m.).

“Go abroad and then ask who the two German lighthouses are. Then you get exactly that answer 98.9 percent of the time, maybe even 100 percent of the time,” Watzke said. In the championship, the southern flagship is in the lead and already ten points ahead of Dortmund, fifth. BVB have collected three more points than Bayern in the Champions League so far. Watzke explained that champion Bayer Leverkusen cannot get closer to the two clubs either. “I have huge respect for what Leverkusen did last year and they have a great team, they are a great club. But we are Borussia Dortmund, that is to say Bayern Munich and we already know our importance,” he explained.

The 65-year-old remained tight-lipped about the future of BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl, whose contract expires in 2025. Sports director Lars Ricken must make the decision. “I also have the feeling that the story is not over yet,” Watzke said. “I know they talk to each other.” Watzke didn’t want to interfere too much, he stressed. « I decided, and I have held up pretty well so far, not to constantly call from the sidelines, as is often the case at other clubs. Watzke’s father always said: « The advice are also a hard blow. » with parsimony to deal with it.

Ricken had recently sent clear signals at the general meeting that he wanted to continue working in Kehl. He reacted cautiously at first. He was happy with Rickens’ words. The former professional said everything else would definitely not be done in public.

BVB with a “broad chest” and Bayern scares in the classic

The Bayern shock is now back on top sporting form. Borussia Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini is finally back just in time for the classic. Much to the delight of his teammates, who celebrated the match winner in a 3-0 Champions League victory at Dinamo Zagreb. « Yes, it’s just great, » said goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, assessing the performance of the Algerian left-back, who has been performing well for weeks.

Against Freiburg, the former Gladbacher was one of the BVB’s best and set up a goal. In Zagreb he won the match 2-0 with a header (56th minute), again played extremely eye-catchingly and defended perfectly. His defense colleague Nico Schlotterbeck also said he had had an « absolute best game ». The reward was the UEFA “man of the match” trophy.

Memories of his time at Gladbach quickly returned, when he almost single-handedly beat Bayern twice. Almost exactly five years ago, he scored a brace for Borussia Bas-Rhin to make it 2-1 against Munich and keep his team at the top of the table at the time. Two years later he was again instrumental in the 5-0 cup win with a brace. “He is welcome to continue like this,” Schlotterbeck said ahead of the Bundesliga success on Saturday (6:30 p.m./Sky).

« Now we approach the match with a broad chest, » said sports director Kehl in view of the show of strength in Zagreb against a luckless opponent. Previously, general manager Ricken had even promised a prestigious victory against their rivals, who had just lost the championship again, referring to the local strength of the Westphalians. BVB’s flawless record so far is six home matches and six wins. “Bayern is coming to us. And we’re doing really well this year,” Schlotterbeck said.

But the players and coaches didn’t want to go as far as Kehl or even Ricken. For good reason. The weakened and completely destructive Dinamo team cannot in any way be compared to Bayern, who outclassed the Croatians 9-2 in the Champions League in September and are already ten points ahead of Dortmund in the Bundesliga. “You didn’t win by talking a lot,” Schlotterbeck noted. “Bayern are better than they have been in a long time.” And still undefeated in the championship. Additionally, Dortmund last won a home game in a Bundesliga classic over six years ago. “It’s time to beat Bayern again,” Kehl said.

Bensebaini in particular knows how to do it. The 29-year-old is increasingly reminiscent of the solid left-back he was during his time at Gladbach. « He’s starting slowly, » praised coach Nuri Şahin: « Good (Site notre bureau spécialisé)er, good guy. The fact that Bensebaini is also making his way into the team was shown in a scene on Wednesday evening when he entered the locker room with his UEFA trophy. » and spontaneously he took a Party started for the Algerian. “Everyone was happy for Ramy. He’s taken a new step, » Kehl said with a smile and couldn’t help but make a smug remark: « Apparently we weren’t so blind when it came to one or two transfers. »

BVB coach Şahin on Bensebaini: “I had a difficult year”

The fact that Bensebaini is currently one of Dortmund’s strongest players and plays as a left-back was almost unthinkable this summer. In his first year at Borussia Westphalia, he was well below his potential due to injury and was already considered written off. “He had a difficult first year,” said Sahin, who had to rely on Bensebaini again due to the personnel situation in the first weeks of the season.

And he took advantage of his opportunity and is currently uncontested. “He also realized he could do more. I also think he’s become even more mature overall,” Kehl said. Sahin vehemently disagreed in this regard and strongly criticized the Algerian, known to be a hothead. “He still receives too many yellow cards. It’s a subject that I don’t like. This annoys me,” complained the BVB coach. In Zagreb, Bensebaini received his third yellow card in the current competition, quite unnecessarily, and will therefore miss the next Champions League match against FC Barcelona. But he will be back against Bayern on Saturday for the first time in a BVB uniform.