Bayern Munich are Set to Continue their Strong Run as Borrusia Dortmund Continue to Play Catch-up

GERMANY

Bundesliga Preview

Borussia Dortmund make another attempt to carry their sparkling Champions League form into the Bundesliga but face a stern test against in-form Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

Dortmund routed Galatasaray 4-1 on Tuesday to qualify early for the knock-out rounds in Europe with a maximum 12 points from four games and an impressive goal difference of 13-1.

Only Italy's Juventus have ever had a marginally better start into the elite event with a goal difference of 14-2 from four wins in 1995-96.

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In the Bundesliga, Dortmund have not won since the mid-September start of the Champions League - placed a shocking second last with just seven points, on a winless run of seven games and five straight defeats for an overall league-worst seven losses in 10 games.

While shining against Arsenal, Anderlecht and Galatasaray, the winless league run sees defeats against Mainz, arch-rivals Schalke, Hamburg, Cologne, Hanover and leaders Bayern Munich.

Now the 2011 and 2012 champions face Moenchengladbach, who are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions and rank third in the Bundesliga, four behind Bayern.

"In our situation it's important to have positive experiences, even if this is a different competition," coach Juergen Klopp said after Tuesday's game.

"We have taken a step forward in terms of fitness. But everyone knows what's at stake on Sunday. But it's also important to enjoy the feeling of winning as it might make you want more of it."

Dortmund took heart from last weekend's narrow 2-1 defeat in Munich, and Klopp opted for stability when he fielded the same starting line-up against Galatasaray than against Munich.

In order to get a first Bundesliga win since a 3-1 against Freiburg on September 13, Dortmund need to finally convert the chances they get.

Kicker sports magazine said Thursday that while Dortmund scored in 40.6 percent of their chances on the continent (13 of 32), the ratio is a shocking 17.2 percent in the league (11 of 64).

Moenchengladbach are where Dortmund would like to be in the league, are ruthless on the break, and beat Dortmund in both games last season.

Patrick Herrmann and Andre Hahn stand out in Lucien Favre's team but Herrmann insists that "anyone can score, that makes us so strong."

Dortmund have two more rest days though, as Moenchengladbach were set to play in the Europa League game in Cyprus at Apollon Limassol on Thursday night.

The other Sunday game sees second-placed Wolfsburg aiming for a sixth straight victory, in a northern German duel against SV Hamburg. The round opens Friday with Hertha Berlin v Hanover.

Unbeaten Bayern, who like Dortmund have qualified for Champions League last 16, are without injured David Alaba and Claudio Pizarro when they take their four-point lead to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Bayern Munich are rampant and dominant this season and the league cup looks all but wrapped up already

The day's other games are Bayer Leverkusen v Mainz, Augsburg v Paderborn, Hoffenheim v Cologne, Freiburg v Schalke and Bremen v Stuttgart.

The scheduling means that Dortmund will be dead last by the time they play Moenchengladbach if current bottom club Bremen get at least a draw against Stuttgart.