Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Nurnberg – Bundesliga Preview
Second bite at the cherry for the leaders
Borussia Dortmund blew a glorious chance of becoming Bundesliga Champions last week as they were humbled by relegation contenders, Borussia Monchengladbach. A Dortmund win, coupled with a Bayer Leverkusen draw or defeat to 1899 Hoffenheim, would have secured
the title for the Borussions but the plot backfired.
On Saturday, April 30, 2011, a second bite at the cherry is on the offering for the Yellow-Blacks as they welcome Nurnberg at home. Der Club are themselves pressing hard for a place in next season’s edition of the UEFA Europa League. However, a win at the
Signal Iduna Park would guarantee the Bundesliga title to BVB. Jurgen Klopp’s men need other results going in their favour if they are to lift the salad bowl (Bundesliga shield) ahead of schedule.
The Rhineland derby
Dortmund are guaranteed the much revered salad bowl if Cologne manage to beat second placed Bayer Leverkusen in the Rhineland derby. Even a draw in that particular game would suffice for BVB as it would then leave Leverkusen needing to win the last two games
of the league and also score 20 goals in the process – something that has never been done before in the history of the Bundesliga.
No Panther to the rescue
On Thursday, BVB fans received sobering news that top goal-scorer http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paraguay-c2979 International had a stiff thigh, prompting Jurgen Klopp into giving
him a day off. Großkreutz, meanwhile, sustained a knee injury a few weeks earlier. A final decision on the duo’s availability is yet to be made.
No spaghetti nerves
The all-famous spaghetti nerves always play a crucial role in the final furlong of the Bundesliga season. It was Bayer Leverkusen last season who failed to stay atop the league table and handed over the Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich in the process.
Many claim that the same has started to happen with Borussia Dortmund. The Westphalians have won just two of their last six games and their lead has been reduced to just five points. However, Jurgen Klopp has dismissed claims that the side is suffering from
nerves.
While talking to the media, Jurgen Klopp took a humorous reading of such claims and said that the only time he was tense was during his A-Levels exams because he wasn’t prepared before adding, "If somebody had told me before the season that we would lead
the league with five points with three games of the season remaining, I would have said they were crazy.” Klopp has warned his side not to underestimate Nurnberg - a club that has set its eyes on Europe.
Party crashers
Nurnberg would definitely be looking to crash the BVB party today. Dieter Hecking is looking to guide his charges to a Europa League berth and has a great chance of doing that today. Nurnberg are sixth in the league standings, only 2 points adrift of 5th place
Mainz who are occupying the final berth for Europa League.
Probable Starting XI
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender, da Silva - Götze, Lewandowski, (Großkreutz) - (Barrios)
Nurnberg: Schäfer - (Chandler), Wollscheid, Wolf, Pinola - Simons - Hegeler, Cohen, Ekici, Eigler - Schieber
Prediction
Though Borussia Dortmund have not been at their best lately, Jurgen Klopp has really exciting and match-winning players both in the starting XI and on the bench. Nurnberg is one of those sides which can make life miserable in the centre of the park for their
opponents. A draw might be on the cards today; the BVB faithful may well have to wait a little longer to lift the salad bowl.
Predicted final score: BVB 1-0 Nurnberg
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