BERLIN, Oct 13: Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are in the unaccustomed role of challengers as the Bundesliga’s top four all meet on Sunday.
League leader Union Berlin hosts fourth-placed Dortmund while 10-time defending champion Bayern welcomes second-placed Freiburg, a team that was unbeaten in 10 games across all competitions before its Europa League game at Nantes on Thursday.
Union is two points ahead of Freiburg, which itself is two points ahead of Bayern and Dortmund after nine rounds.
The surprise leaders’ success is built on mean defences, efficiency in front of goal, and continuity – both Union coach Urs Fischer and Freiburg counterpart Christian Streich are the longest serving coaches in the Bundesliga.
“You only have continuity in a club if a team achieves results that exceed expectations,” Streich said this week.
Neither Streich nor Fischer have any attention-grabbing stars, but they count on full commitment, hard work and a willingness to suffer when the players need to defend. No other teams have conceded fewer goals in the Bundesliga.
Union held visiting Bayern to 1-1 in September. Dortmund will present a different challenge at Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Sunday. (AP)
