Bundesliga Week 33: Leipzig vs Bayern could officially end BVB's title hopes

Themenbereiche: TV Schedules, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bundesliga

Will Bayern shut down the title race against Leipzig? Live Soccer TV's match preview takes a look at what's gone wrong for Dortmund, and what's in store for Bayern.

Preview: Leipzig vs Bayern

Bayern are literally just one game away from clinching the league title. With four wins from their last five Bundesliga games, they have opened a four point gap over Dortmund and unless if they fail to win against Leipzig on Saturday, Niko Kovac's side will be crowned champions of Germany with one game to spare.

With the cup final coming up, Kovac could rotate his squad somewhat for this upcoming fixture, especially, if die Roten take a comfortable lead over Leipzig early on. As for die Bullen, they sit in third place and have pretty much secured a Champions League berth for themselves for next term thanks to winning four of their last five games.

Although their four game winning streak was halted as a result of a draw last weekend, they will be facing Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final in two weeks' time, which presents Leipzig's only chance at winning some silverware this season. Certainly, if this game doesn't go their way, they won't be too upset about it as they will have a bigger chance of revenge on the Bavarian powerhouse in the final on May 25th - although they obviously wouldn't want to let Bayern be crowned champions of Germany in their stadium, either.

Current position: Leipzig vs Bayern

Here's how things are shaping up in the table for Bayern, Dortmund, and Leipzig:

Pos. Mannschaft AS S U V TE GT TD P Letzte 5
1 Bayer Leverkusen 33 27 6 0 87 23 +64 87 SSUUS

2 Bayern München 33 23 3 7 92 41 +51 72 SVSSS

3 Stuttgart 33 22 4 7 74 39 +35 70 SSUVS

4 RB Leipzig 33 19 7 7 75 37 +38 64 UUSSS

5 Borussia Dortmund 33 17 9 7 64 43 +21 60 VSVUS

6 Eintracht Frankfurt 33 11 13 9 49 48 +1 46 UVVSV

7 Hoffenheim 33 12 7 14 62 64 -2 43 SUVSV

8 Freiburg 33 11 9 13 44 56 -12 42 UUVUS

9 Heidenheim 33 9 12 12 46 54 -8 39 UUSVU

10 Augsburg 33 10 9 14 49 58 -9 39 VVVVS

11 Werder Bremen 33 10 9 14 44 53 -9 39 UUSSV

12 Wolfsburg 33 10 7 16 40 53 -13 37 VSSSV

13 Borussia M'gladbach 33 7 13 13 56 63 -7 34 UUUVV

14 Bochum 33 7 12 14 41 70 -29 33 VSSVU

15 Mainz 05 33 6 14 13 36 50 -14 32 SUUUS

16 Union Berlin 33 8 6 19 31 57 -26 30 VVUVV

17 Köln 33 5 12 16 27 56 -29 27 SUUVV

18 Darmstadt 98 33 3 8 22 30 82 -52 17 VVVSV

Pos.	Mannschaft	AS	S	U	V	TE	GT	TD	P	Letzte 5
1	Bayer Leverkusen	33	27	6	0	87	23	+64	87	SSUUS
2	Bayern München	33	23	3	7	92	41	+51	72	SVSSS
3	Stuttgart	33	22	4	7	74	39	+35	70	SSUVS
4	RB Leipzig	33	19	7	7	75	37	+38	64	UUSSS
5	Borussia Dortmund	33	17	9	7	64	43	+21	60	VSVUS
6	Eintracht Frankfurt	33	11	13	9	49	48	+1	46	UVVSV
7	Hoffenheim	33	12	7	14	62	64	-2	43	SUVSV
8	Freiburg	33	11	9	13	44	56	-12	42	UUVUS
9	Heidenheim	33	9	12	12	46	54	-8	39	UUSVU
10	Augsburg	33	10	9	14	49	58	-9	39	VVVVS
11	Werder Bremen	33	10	9	14	44	53	-9	39	UUSSV
12	Wolfsburg	33	10	7	16	40	53	-13	37	VSSSV
13	Borussia M'gladbach	33	7	13	13	56	63	-7	34	UUUVV
14	Bochum	33	7	12	14	41	70	-29	33	VSSVU
15	Mainz 05	33	6	14	13	36	50	-14	32	SUUUS
16	Union Berlin	33	8	6	19	31	57	-26	30	VVUVV
17	Köln	33	5	12	16	27	56	-29	27	SUUVV
18	Darmstadt 98	33	3	8	22	30	82	-52	17	VVVSV

Champions League (Gruppenphase)

Europa League (Gruppenphase)

Promotion - Europa Conference League (Qualification: )

Relegation Play-offs

Relegation - 2. Bundesliga

Match facts and stats: Leipzig vz Bayern

Leipzig are undefeated in their last 14 matches
However, they've won just one of their last six meetings with Bayern
Bayern, meanwhile, are unbeaten in 17 of their last 20 Bundesliga fixtures

Talking point: What's going on in the title race? What's gone awry for Dortmund?

Nine points. That was the gap between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in December, and in theory, that usually is more than enough room for a side to comfortably feel they have done enough to win the title this upcoming May.

In fact, so far, Borussia Dortmund are still unbeaten at home, with 12 wins and two draws to their name. That means they have the best home record out of any side in the Bundesliga. Even Bayern, who have won nine, drawn three, and lost once, can't boast this, but yet, die Roten have managed to climb back on top of the Bundesliga - despite sitting nine points behind Dortmund in mid-December.

From a neutral perspective, it's a disappointing turn of events. Many had hoped this would finally be the season in which Bayern didn't stroll away with the title once again, and truth be told, they aren't. The Bavarian titans have actually had to work this time around to be crowned champions of Germany, but for Dortmund fans and neutral observers, many had felt that it was high time that someone else upset the apple cart and turned a one-horse affair into a more unpredictable business.

Come Saturday, however, Bayern look set to be crowned winners of the Bundesliga for the seventh straight time since 2013 as they take on Leipzig on the road. Where did it go awry for Dortmund, though?

Simply put, it can be all described by one word: Complacency. Dortmund had a golden opportunity and they let it slip. And arguably, in February 2019, when they stumbled to three straight draws while Bayern picked up three wins out of three, things really fell apart. In fact, between the start of January 2019 and their crunch Klassiker tie, Dortmund posted a record of six wins, three draws, and one defeat. That's a total of 21 points earned.

Bayern, by contrast, posted a record of eight wins, one draw, and one defeat. That's a grand total of 25 points earned, or four more than Borussia Dortmund over the same period. This was capped of with a stunning 5-0 demolition of die Schwarzelben at the Allianz Arena, and since then, Bayern have yet to lose a game, picking up three more wins and a draw (or ten additional points). Dortmund, for their part, have lost one (4-2 to Schalke), won twice, and drawn once (or five additional points).

As a result, heading into matchday 33, Bayern now have a four point gap over Dortmund, meaning that the title race could be effectively decided on the road as they face Leipzig.