MUNICH, Germany: Jude Bellingham is injured and unlikely to figure for Borussia Dortmund this weekend in a blow to the club’s battle with Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title.
Dortmund, one point behind the perennial champions with two games to play, travel to Augsburg on Sunday, with Bayern hosting Freiburg 24 hours earlier.
The England international’s importance to Dortmund was evident in last Saturday’s win over Borussia Moenchengladbach, when the 19-year-old was asked to take a penalty with his side leading 1-0.
Bellingham, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, converted for his 14th goal of the season in all competitions, and Dortmund won 5-2 to stay on Bayern’s heels.
But he emerged from the game complaining of knee pain.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic conceded “there’s a big question mark, we’ve just got to wait and see.”
“Since the game Jude hasn’t been able to train with us. It’s not going to be any good if I pick him and he says after four minutes that he’s not right,” added Terzic.
Bellingham blow for Bundesliga title-chasers Dortmund
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Bellingham blow for Bundesliga title-chasers Dortmund
- The England international's importance to Dortmund was evident in last Saturday's win over Borussia Moenchengladbach
- Bellingham, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, converted for his 14th goal of the season in all competitions
Bayern beat Cologne 3-1 to set Bundesliga record at halfway mark
- Bayern came from a goal down to earn their sixth league win in the last seven matches
- The Bavarians have clear water between themselves and Borussia Dortmund in 2nd place on 36 points
COLOGNE, Germany: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich battled past hosts Cologne 3-1 on Wednesday to record the best first half of a season in the league’s history and maintain their 11-point lead at the top of the standings.
Bayern came from a goal down to earn their sixth league win in the last seven matches, and moved up to 47 points with a goal difference of +53. The previous best mark after 17 matches belonged to Pep Guardiola’s Bayern from the 2013/14 season, also with 47 points but a goal difference of +35.
The Bavarians, who host Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League next week, have clear water between themselves and Borussia Dortmund in second place on 36 points.
Cologne did not look at all intimidated by Bayern’s 8-1 demolition of VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday, and took a fully deserved 41st-minute lead with Linton Maina’s spectacular 60-meter solo run and superb finish to beat keeper Manuel Neuer.
The visitors managed to level before the break when Serge Gnabry flicked the ball into the net off the crossbar from the tightest of angles in first-half stoppage time.
Jakub Kaminski had the hosts’ best chance to score again with a low 58th-minute drive, but Neuer did well to push the ball wide in a crowded box.
The hosts managed to keep Bayern away from their box for much of the second half but could do nothing when Hiroki Ito headed on a deep cross and Kim Min-jae nodded in for a 2-1 lead.
Teenager Lennart Karl made sure of the three points in the 84th minute when he slotted in from a Luis Diaz assist.
