Bayern Munich's clash against Borussia Dortmund has little more than statistical value for them, according to club chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge
Bayern Munich Photo - DC
Berlin: European champions Bayern Munich have dismissed Saturday’s Bundesliga showdown against arch rivals Borussia Dortmund as no more than a clash for bragging rights between Germany’s top sides. Bayern were confirmed German league champions a fortnight ago with a record seven games to spare and are 20 points clear of second placed Dortmund in the table ahead of the the Allianz Arena clash.
“The game has some statistical value, but nothing more,” Bayern chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge said of Der Klassiker against Dortmund, while director of sport Matthias Sammer was damning in his appraisal.
“I have never seen it written on a list of achievements: ‘prestige won’, so it’s not a decisive game for us,” said Sammer with Bayern through to the Champions League’s semifinals after their 4-2 aggregate win over Manchester United in the last eight.
Nevertheless, Bayern’s bosses will be extremely irritated to lose to Dortmund, especially after last Saturday’s shock 1-0 defeat at Augsburg and the 3-3 draw at home to Hoffenheim in the league.Ever the diplomat, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola talked up Dortmund, especially following Borussia’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday as they bowed out of the Champions League after losing their quarterfinal 2-3 on aggregate.
“We know how good Dortmund are, it’s important for both teams to show how good they are,” said Guardiola. “I watched the Dortmund match against Real Madrid game and they were amazing. We’ll need to be well prepared to face them.
( Source : AFP )
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