Borussia Dortmund (DOR) host Bayern Munich (BAY) in the 2021-22 Bundesliga season at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, December 4. The game will kick off at 11:00 PM IST.

DOR vs BAY Dream11 Prediction

Dortmund sit second in the league standings, one point behind defending champions Bayern Munich. Marco Rose’s men have won each of their seven home games in the 2021-22 Bundesliga season and will start as slight favourites in the upcoming fixture.

On the other hand, Bayern returned to winning ways in the league against Arminia Bielefeld after a 1-2 defeat at Augsburg in gameweek 12. The Bavarians are unbeaten against Dortmund in the previous six meetings across competitions and they will eye a win at Signal Iduna Park to consolidate their lead at the summit of the points table.

DOR vs BAY Dream11 team tips for Bundesliga 2021-22

Top tip: Best forward

While fantasy players will have a hard time deciding between Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland for the Der Klassiker game, the numbers back Lewandowski as the best pick. The Poland striker, who won the Striker of the Year award at the 2021 Ballon d’Or ceremony, is the leading goal-scorer in the fixture with 15 goals and he will be eager to add to his tally this weekend.

Top tip: Best midfielder

Marco Reus starts as the top midfielder for Saturday’s tie. The 32-year-old, with four goals and eight assists in the league, will be eager to have an impact on the midfield from the wide areas against Bayern Munich. He’s been in fine form this season and will be a massive threat to Bayern’s defence.

Top tip: Best defender and goalkeeper

For a defender, fantasy football players should consider Dayot Upamecano in their teams over Raphael Guerreiro, who has a muscular injury. The Bayern defender has won 116 tackles and 35 aerial duels while contributing four assists in Bundesliga 2021-22. Upamecano will be hoping to add to his 240 fantasy points tally this season on Saturday.

When it comes to goalkeepers, Manuel Neuer is the first-choice pick ahead of Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel. Even though Bayern are likely to be on top for most of the match, Neuer will have to make his fair share of saves against Dortmund’s attack, meaning he’s going to be among the points through his shot-stopping ability.

DOR vs BAY probable playing XI

DOR probable XI: Gregor Kobel (goalkeeper), Thomas Meunier, Manuel Akanji, Mats Hummels, Nico Schulz, Emre Can, Mahmoud Dahoud, Julian Brandt, Marius Wolf, Marco Reus (captain), Donyell Malen

BAY probable XI: Manuel Neuer (captain and goalkeeper), Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernández, Anthony Davies, Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, Robert Lewandowski

Featured photo: AFP / Ina Fassbender

It is quite rare that a Germany national football team heads into a major international tournament like the Euro 2020 as an underdog. Even though Germany are the joint-most successful side in the UEFA European championships with three titles alongside Spain, not much is expected of them in the upcoming Euros. 

Since winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Germany have experienced a bit of a lull compared to their impeccably high standards. The Die Mannschaft were knocked out in the group stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. 

Germany were also thrashed 6-0 by Spain in the UEFA Nations League last year - their worst defeat since 1931. They also recently suffered a 2-1 loss to minnows North Macedonia in the World Cup qualifiers, indicating that the European heavyweights aren’t at their ruthless best at the moment.

These results, in fact, have forced Joachim Low to step down as Germany head coach with former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick set to take charge after the Euros.

Joachim Low and his men are placed in Group F, which is considered the group of death at Euro 2020. Germany’s group features world champions France, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Hungary.

Germany have announced an experienced squad for Euro 2020, recalling World Cup winners Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels after a two-year absence. Low has also added Monaco striker Kevin Volland, who has not played for Germany since 2016, as well as the Bayern Munich teenager Jamal Musiala.

Germany squad for Euro 2020 

Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Trapp

Defenders: Matthias Ginter, Robin Gosens, Christian Gunter, Marcel Halstenberg, Mats Hummels, Lukas Klostermann, Robin Koch, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule

Midfielders: Emre Can, Leon Goretzka, Ilkay Gundogan, Kai Havertz, Jonas Hofmann, Joshua Kimmich, Toni Kroos, Florian Neuhaus

Forwards: Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala, Timo Werner, Leroy Sane, Kevin Volland

 

 

SWOT Analysis of Germany Euro 2020 squad

Strength

Germany have several quality midfielders in their squad for the upcoming UEFA European championships. With the likes of Toni Kroos, Joshua Kimmich, Ilkay Gundogan, Kai Havertz and Leon Goretzka, they have depth and a variety of options to choose from.

The team also possesses world class wingers who can change the complexion of the game with their speed and trickery in the wide areas. Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Thomas Muller are all household names in world football and it’s safe to say that opposition defenders will be far from keen when it comes to facing them.

Weaknesses

However, the Die Mannschaft lacks a traditional No. 9 in the mould of Robert Lewandowski or Harry Kane. The form of Chelsea forward Timo Werner is also a concern for Joachim Low’s side. Werner has failed to live upto the expectations since his transfer to Chelsea at the start of last season. 

He’s lacked confidence in front of goal and was guilty of missing an easy opportunity during Germany’s recent loss against North Macedonia. The German defence has also been vulnerable in recent times having kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 outings.

Opportunity

Since people have unusually low expectations from the German side this time around, the players can take this opportunity to express themselves on the field as they look to rally around the coach to give him a perfect send off.

Furthermore, Germany will play all its group games and a potential quarterfinal at home in Munich. This will give them an added advantage.

Threat

Germany scored a whopping 30 goals in their eight UEFA European Championship qualifying matches. This figure has been bettered by just one team in the groups of teams who played only eight games and that was England. 

Captain Manuel Neuer will hope that his team can rediscover their Midas touch in front of goal at Euro 2020 as they bid to become the most successful team in the history of the competition. Germany will begin their Euro 2020 campaign against world champions France at the Allianz Arena on June 16.

Featured photo: THILO SCHMUELGEN / POOL / AFP

A pandemic-enforced 2019/20 football season finally concluded last Sunday (August 23) as Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich lifted their sixth UEFA Champions League title, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final in Lisbon, Portugal.

Arguably the longest season of football, the campaign has had its fair share of ups and downs, but it duly provided the entertainment that was promised. 

It has been more than a year since the 2019/20 season got underway, given that the quarter-finals of the Champions League took place four months later than its original schedule. So it is all but human to forget most of the action and incidents that took place during the year.

With that being said, we take a trip back to refresh the memory and look at five things that happened during the 2019/20 season.

Kyle’s a keeper

Manchester City played Atalanta in the group stage of the Champions League in October 2019. Pep Guardiola’s side went ahead in the opening 10 minutes but then lost Ederson Moraes to an injury during half-time.

“Ladsss! Don’t worry, I’ve got this!!!�?pic.twitter.com/plNvgbKtaQ

�?Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) November 6, 2019

Out came Claudio Bravo as his replacement, and Atalanta were quick in finding an equaliser. Now with both sides searching for the winner, Bravo received his marching orders in the 81st minute for a rugged sliding tackle on Josip Ilicic outside the box. Now with no keeper at his disposal, Guardiola decided to throw in right-back Kyle Walker on the goal. And well, the former Tottenham defender made more saves (1) than both Ederson and Bravo combined on the night.

Did you say Genk or Gent?

Liverpool were scheduled to play Genk away from home in October, but two confused supporters had to watch the game in an Irish bar in the Belgian city of Gent, around 80 miles from Genk, despite having the match ticket.

As it turns out, the pair got confused between Genk and Gent, and it was some 30 minutes before the kick-off that they realised their error. Financially, they had spent �?0 each on their match tickets and �?50 each on train tickets, a total of �?40 just to watch their team play live from an Irish bar some 150 kilometres away from the venue.

Last October, they ended up in @Stadgent when they actually wanted to see @LFC play Genk in the @ChampionsLeague So to cheer them up, we invited them to our game against @KRCGenkofficial tonight. Glad you made it this time Lee & Rob Have a good one! #GntGnk #kaagent pic.twitter.com/bbM35t5iR9

�?KAA Gent (@KAAGent) January 25, 2020

But there was something fruitful waiting for the pair, as Gent invited them for a Belgian First Division game against Genk a couple of months later. And guess the scoreline; it was Genk 4-1 Gent.

Lewandowski started as 30 and finished as 32

This might confuse you a bit, but what you read is exactly what happened. 

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski started the 2019/20 season as a 30-year-old, and by the time he lifted the Champions League trophy in Lisbon on Sunday, he was 32. 

Here's a fun fact:
Robert Lewandowski turned 32 on Friday, he was only 30 when the season began!

�?Andy Wales * (@AndyArmchair) August 23, 2020

The 2019/20 Bundesliga season kicked off on August 16 2019, five days before Lewandowski’s 31st birthday, meaning that he was 30 when the Bavarians played their first league game. And a night following his side’s 3-0 win over Lyon in the semi-finals of the Champions League, he turned 32.

See? No rocket science.

Ball boys were sent off

Eight red cards in a single game would usually bring it on the cusp of abandonment. But that wasn’t the case when Yeovil Town squared off against Bromley in the National League back in September 2019.

With Yeovil leading 3-1 at home, not only players but even the ball boys started delaying the game. Referee Aaron Jackson warned one of the ball boys some 10 minutes before the final whistle, but when a similar incident happened, he put out eight reds.

85 | Update: he's dismissed all of them...

(3-1) #YTFC

�?Yeovil Town FC (@YTFC) September 28, 2019

"One ball boy delayed giving the ball back to Bromley's Sam Wood about 10 minutes from the end and was warned by the referee," explained BBC Somerset commentator Chris Spittles.

"But when the same ball boy repeated the trick shortly after, the referee asked for them all to be removed. One steward was tasked with gathering them all in and leading them away down the tunnel.

Bayern threatened to boycott Germany international team

Ahead of Germany’s friendly against Argentina and a EURO 2020 qualifier against Estonia in September 2019, Bayern Munich President Uli Hoenes warned the national camp, saying that the club will stop allowing their players to join Joachim Low in his national team if Manuel Neuer is replaced by Marc-Andre ter Stegen. 

The latter had previously quoted that he has every right to complain about being behind Neuer in the pecking order, but Bayern seem to have taken this to heart.

"We would never accept that (Ter Stegen replacing Neuer as No.1)," Hoeness told Bild. "(If Bayern are informed of the change) before it happens, we won't send any players to the national team anymore."

As it turned out though, the Barcelona keeper was indeed chosen ahead of Neuer, but his appearance came against Argentina in a friendly, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Against Estonia though, Neuer kept his place as the 2014 World Cup winners won the game 3-0.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Marco Bertorello

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has signed a new deal with Bayern Munich that ties him to the club until 2023, the Bundesliga champions said on Wednesday.

The announcement ends weeks of speculation over the Bayern captain's future, with widespread reports that talks between player and club had hit the rocks.

"During the weeks of the shutdown for the coronavirus pandemic, I didn't want to make a decision because nobody knew if, when and how Bundesliga football would continue," Neuer said in a statement.

"I look to the future with great optimism. I feel very comfortable and at home in Bavaria."

Last month the Bild daily reported that Neuer and his agent Thomas Kroth were demanding a five-year deal with a salary of 20 million euros per season.

Read | Bayern Munich sign goalkeeper Alexander Nubel on a free transfer

Neuer had revealed his irritation both at the status of the talks and that details were being leaked to the media.

A World Cup winner in 2014 with Germany, Neuer joined Bayern from Schalke in 2011 and has won almost everything with the Bavarian giants, with seven Bundesliga titles, five German Cups and the 2013 Champions League to his name.

The 34-year-old is on course to win his eighth league crown with Bayern after a 2-0 win at Union Berlin on Sunday that maintained his team's four-point lead at the top of the table as the Bundesliga became the first major European league to return from the coronavirus shutdown.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Christof Stache

Germany captain Manuel Neuer says Bundesliga footballers have an "enormous responsibility" after the league announced Wednesday it will restart from May 15, having been granted permission to resume from Angela Merkel's government.

The German Football League (DFL) confirmed the restart date for the top two divisions, with the clubs to finalise details in a video conference on Thursday.

Earlier, German Chancellor Merkel gave permission for the Bundesliga to resume behind closed doors, amid strict hygiene measures and regular testing of players. It will be the first of Europe's top leagues to restart since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

"People will be looking at us from other European countries, indeed all over the world," Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer told Frankfurt-based newspaper FAZ.

"This is an enormous responsibility for us, which we must be aware of with every fibre. It is now up to us."

Read | Bundesliga hopes for restart go-ahead despite ten cases of coronavirus

He said the players must ensure the league returns successfully.

"Now it is up to each individual at each club to bring this concept to life in a disciplined manner," added Neuer.

"We are particularly responsible for tens of thousands of jobs in diverse industries that live with, and through, football. And we are responsible for all those fans for whom football is a big part of their lives."

Bayern, chasing an eighth straight league title, were four points clear when the Bundesliga was halted on March 13. However, there remains fierce debate in Germany whether football should return.

The virus has claimed over 7,000 lives in the country.

Hertha Berlin striker Salomon Kalou was suspended by his club on Monday and slammed by politicians for shaking hands with team-mates in a video, flaunting social distancing guidelines.

Neuer said the Kalou incident should be a "warning sign" to all players, who he urged to become "social role models".

"We were the darlings of an entire nation when we became world champions at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on 13 July 2014," said Neuer.

"Now we're wearing a different jersey -- that of our social role models."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Christof Stache

Bayern Munich captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer told German media Sunday he has become "irritated" with negotiations to extend his contract, which have reportedly stalled in recent weeks. 

"All talks I have had since I have been here have been confidential... nothing has ever leaked," the 34-year-old told Germany's most popular daily Bild.

"But now, details about the current talks are constantly appearing in the media, and are often untrue. That irritates me. It's not something I am used to at Bayern."

The veteran goalkeeper's unusually candid comments come amid widespread reports that his current contract negotiations have hit the rocks. If the talks fail, club captain Neuer could be free to leave Bayern in June and attract the interest of the Premier League clubs. According to Bild, Neuer and his agent Thomas Kroth are demanding a five-year deal, with a salary of 20 million euros per season.

Read | UEFA to meet on April 23 to discuss plans for resumption of football season

In Sunday's interview, Kroth denied such details and said he was not "confronting the club with demands which will hit it hard in the coronavirus crisis". 

With Bundesliga matches currently suspended due to the coronavirus, Bayern have recently extended the contracts of forward Thomas Mueller and head coach Hansi Flick, both until 2023. Neuer hailed Flick as a "super coach" and said that the 55-year-old's extension had convinced him too to stay on at Bayern. 

"I want to have a contract which is a win-win situation for me and Bayern. I want to perform, be there for the team... and give 100 percent," he said.

"The conditions have to be right (for that)," he added. 

Read| Premier League unlikely to resume before June 8

Neuer, who helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup title, has been named world goalkeeper of the year four times. He has kept 191 clean sheets in 373 appearances for Bayern since joining from Schalke in 2011 and made 92 appearances for Germany.

Undisputed number one for nearly a decade, Neuer's future at Bayern has been thrown into doubt by the impending arrival of young Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nubel. Nubel, 23, will join Bayern at the end of the current campaign and has reportedly been promised at least 10 appearances per season. Yet Neuer dismissed the idea that his number one jersey was under threat.

"As long as I am performing, I will play. That is my assumption," he told Bild. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sascha Schuermann