Borussia Dortmund’s Der Klassiker success put them in control of the league, but their manager knows not to take anything for granted
Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre insisted the Bundesliga title race was still wide open after his side overcame Bayern Munich 3-2 in a thrilling Der Klassiker.
Marco Reus twice cancelled out goals from Robert Lewandowski at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday before Paco Alcacer scored a 73rd-minute winner for Dortmund.
While Dortmund are still only four points clear at the top – with Borussia Monchengladbach second – they pushed seven ahead of Bayern.
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But Favre refused to rule out Bayern and said the Bundesliga title race was still well and truly alive.
“We’re on top of the table in the Bundesliga and Gladbach are second,” he told a news conference.
“Who is number three again? Bayern. It’s very close.
“There is [RB] Leipzig, Gladbach and of course Bayern Munich, [especially] when they play like they did [against Dortmund].”
The 61-year-old would be wise not to write of the Bavarians just yet, but history is certainly with Dortmund .
Bayern have never won the title after trailing by such a distance at this point in the season, heightening pressure on Kovac after a poor start to the season.
In stark contrast, Dortmund are on pace to have a record-breaking season.
Only two Bundesliga sides have ever picked up more points through 11 matches than Dortmund’s 27, and BVB are unbeaten through 11 matches for just the second time.
The only other time the side went unbeaten through 11 games, however, Bayern Munich won the crown, with Dortmund finishing 17 points back in third.
The first clash between Bayern and Dortmund that year came in the 12th match of the season, with Bayern taking a 2-1 win.
Bayern will have plenty of time to close the gap on Dortmund before they meet again, with the second Der Klassiker of the season slated for mid-April.
Niko Kovac’s side also have a friendly schedule in front of them, with bottom three clubs on tap in two of their next three league games.
Both clubs will return to Bundesliga action following the international break.