Borussia Dortmund hold one-point lead over Bayern Munich, who are hunting 11th straight title; watch Bochum vs Borussia Dortmund on Friday, live on Sky Sports from 7.20pm; kick-off 7.30pm; watch Bayern Munich vs Hertha Berlin on Sunday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 2.30pm
Saturday 29 April 2023 09:29, UK
Bayern Munich are playing catch-up to leaders Borussia Dortmund for the league title with five games remaining - but they can return to the summit of German's top-flight at home to Hertha Berlin, live on Sky Sports this weekend.
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel has won just two of his seven games in charge since replacing Julian Nagelsmann but victory over Hertha on Sunday afternoon will see them sit one point above Borussia Dortmund in the table.
Dortmund slipped up on Friday night, drawing 1-1 at VfL Bochum. Karim Adeyemi quickly responded to Anthony Losilla's opener for Bochum on five minutes - but the league leaders could not get the victory to take them four points clear.
Even before the game, Tuchel was confident that Bayern could get the points required to overcome the challenge of Dortmund.
"The situation has become more difficult for us now but it is not hopeless," Tuchel told a news conference. "I still have the feeling we will shift up a gear (in the last five games)."
Since his arrival in late March, Tuchel has seen his team crash out of the German Cup and the Champions League last eight while also giving up the lead in the Bundesliga.
Tuchel will be without Dayot Upamecano for the game after the France defender picked up a muscle injury in training this week and will be sidelined for about two weeks, the coach said.
Hertha are in last place but have brought back former coach Pal Dardai in a last-ditch effort to avoid relegation.
"They are a bit unpredictable now with the coaching change," Tuchel said. "We have to reduce expectations and not expect too much from ourselves too early."
"We have to take it one minute at a time and eventually reach the win. But we have to deliver. Talking about our situation in the standings at the moment does not really make sense.
"We are very honest. We are the last ones to sweep anything under the carpet. We have dropped five points in the last two matches."
With just five games left it is looking like a two-horse race for the title, although there is plenty still to play for further down the table.
Wolfsburg vs Mainz on Sunday afternoon, live on Sky Sports, will have ramifications in the hunt for the European places, with both sides hoping to catch Bayer Leverkusen in sixth - a placing that will bring either Europa League and Europa Conference League qualification, depending on the winner of the DFB Pokal.
Unusual suspects Union Berlin and Freiburg are primed to gatecrash the Champions League places, while RB Leipzig and Frankfurt have ground to make up.
At the bottom of the Bundesliga, Hertha Berlin are three points behind 16th-placed Stuttgart, who occupy the relegation play-off place, and five points from safety,
Schalke, Bochum, Hoffenheim and Augsburg are also unsure of their top-flight safety, meaning drama is set to ensue throughout the Bundesliga as it comes towards its conclusion.
