Another German title is almost certain and Bayern Munich is targeting a Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League treble and setting a few records on the way.
Bayern defeated closest rival Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the Bundesliga last weekend and can go 14 points clear before the rest of the 25th round with a win at home over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday.
The Bavarian powerhouse then faces Italian team Atalanta away in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday. The return game in Munich is the following week.
The front three of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz have chipped in 53 goals in the Bundesliga so far and could overtake Gerd Müller, Uli Hoeneß and Franz Roth (65 for Bayern in 1971-72) as the most prolific trio in Bundesliga history.
Bayern is also on target – with 88 goals so far – to break the record for goals in a season, Bayern’s 101 in 1971-72.
The battle for Champions League qualification is intensifying with four teams — Hoffenheim, Stuttgart, Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen — fighting for the last two places to qualify for Europe’s premier competition.
Hoffenheim and Stuttgart currently have those places with 46 points, third and fourth respectively on goal difference, while Leipzig follows on 44, and Leverkusen is a further point behind in sixth.
Relegation is also heating up after Wolfsburg dropped into an automatic relegation place last weekend. The Volkswagen-backed club, which hasn’t won any of its last seven games, hosts Hamburger SV on Saturday.
If Leipzig does clinch a Champions League place, it will likely be thanks to Yan Diomande. The Ivory Coast teenager has nine goals this season and scored the winner against Hamburg last weekend.
Who is out?
Kane, who scored twice or more in each of his last four Bundesliga games, is out with a calf injury. It hurts his bid to break Robert Lewandowski’s season record of 41 goals in 2020-21. Kane has 30 from 24 rounds but won’t be able to add to his tally on Friday.
Dortmund visits Cologne on Saturday and will be without captain Emre Can for the rest of the season after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the loss to Bayern last weekend.…Read more by CIARÁN FAHEY