Bayern and Dortmund already setting the pace in Bundesliga – Sports

BERLIN (AP) – FC Bayern Munich have made such an impressive start to the season that few expect Borussia Dortmund or any other challenger to match.

The two contenders are the only teams left with a 100% record after two games in the Bundesliga, where they are already occupying the places they had at the end of last season – first and second.

Bayern lead on goal difference, having scored six in their opening win at Eintracht Frankfurt and two more in last weekend’s comfortable win over Wolfsburg. Next, the Bavarian powerhouse travel to Bochum on Sunday where they will be hoping for more target practice against a side who have lost both games.

Dortmund, who are relying on a mixture of youth and experience for the new season, prevailed over strong rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg. Edin Terzi’s team? Werder Bremen are next up on Saturday.

Bayern and Dortmund only play against each other in the ninth round on the weekend of October 8th.

Bayern are aiming for a record, extending their 11th consecutive league title since Dortmund last won it in 2012.

Ex-Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus doesn’t expect a change after honoring sporting director Hasan Salihamidži? for a busy summer full of transfer activities.

Matthäus says the squad is strong enough to play for the Champions League.

“After the performances so far and my gut feeling, I think that Bayern, with this team and this spirit, have an important say in winning the most important European club cup,” said Matthäus in a column for Germany’s Sky Sport.

Bayern saw top scorer Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona but brought in Senegalese star Sadio Mané, Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, Ajax stars Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch and highly-rated French talent Mathys Tel.

Another former Bayern legend, Franz Beckenbauer, struggled with his excitement after watching Bayern’s opening game in Frankfurt.

“I’ll hold back my congratulations on the title. But I haven’t seen such a desire, such a performance for a long time,” said Beckenbauer of the “Bild” newspaper.

Dortmund is concentrating on its own team and results. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl said he watched Bayern’s opening game in Frankfurt but it caused “little excitement” in his household.

Kehl, who took over from his predecessor Michael Zorc after last season, accompanied another summer of reconstruction in Dortmund. Top scorer Erling Haaland is gone, first Ajax’s Sébastien Haller, then Cologne’s Anthony Modeste after Haller was diagnosed with a testicular tumor.

Dortmund also signed German attacker Karim Adeyemi and his national team-mates Niko Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle for defence.

But existing players like Marco Reus, Jude Bellingham and youngsters Youssoufa Moukoko and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are just as important. Moukoko and Bynoe-Gittens both scored in Dortmund’s win in Freiburg last week, and Dortmund renewed 18-year-old Bynoe-Gittens’ contract on Tuesday.

Edin Terzi? is back to coach the team after Marco Rose was inconsistent last season. third? led Dortmund to the DFB Cup in his first stint in 2021. After last Friday’s win in Freiburg, he is also the first Dortmund coach to win nine games in a row.

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