Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany says his team is showing an extra edge in training like 鈥渉ealthy poison鈥� ahead of a against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday which could all but seal the title.
Bayern leads Dortmund by eight points with 11 games remaining.
Kompany said he was aware of the potential for Dortmund to bounce back at home following the shock of a from the Champions League against Atalanta on Wednesday.
鈥淚t’s obviously a blow and that was the sort of game where Dortmund could have progressed, so that obviously always has a mental effect, but what happens from that can go in both directions,” Kompany said.
鈥淲hat we have under control is how we approach this game and we’ve had a good week. We sensed it was a 鈥楰lassiker鈥� week. There were even moments sometimes where we had this healthy poison in training that I love. We’ve done everything right going into the game and want to continue that in the game.鈥�
Dortmund is the only team not to lose at home in the Bundesliga this season. Bayern is yet to be beaten away.
Goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer is doubtful after not having played since sustaining a two weeks ago. Backup Jonas Urbig played in last week’s .
鈥淔or me (Neuer’s recovery) is all actually going well but perhaps it’s not for tomorrow,鈥� Kompany said. 鈥淓ven so I’d like to talk this over once more with Manu.鈥�
With Neuer’s future still unclear ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the season, it could be the 39-year-old goalkeeping great’s last 鈥淜濒补蝉蝉颈办别谤鈥� for Bayern.
Hiroki Ito is out 鈥渇or the time being鈥� with a hamstring tear. It’s the latest injury setback for the defender, who was out from March until November with a recurrence of an earlier fracture in his foot.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said his players were keen to move on from their defensive troubles against Atalanta and to focus on a 鈥�100% good game tomorrow from start to finish鈥�.
鈥淚 have to say we’re looking forward to it, everyone, the whole team, the whole staff,” Kovac said. 鈥淲e obviously want to show a totally different side to ourselves than we showed in Bergamo (against Atalanta).鈥�
Kovac said Dortmund remains without defender Niklas S眉le, who also missed the Atalanta game with a thigh injury.
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