Beckenbauer tips Dortmund for title
Borussia Dortmund are favoured to beat Bayern Munich for another Bundesliga title, Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer said on Monday.
The former Munich captain, coach and president Beckenbauer said in his column in the Bild daily that Munich have lost the league lead to Dortmund because they lack the lightness from the first half of the season.
Holders Dortmund have turned a three-point deficit on Munich into a two-point lead in the three games after the winter break, which they all won for an unbeaten run of 14 while Munich managed only one win, a draw and a defeat in the same period.
"I cannot be happy that Dortmund have taken Munich's place at the top. But I am not surprised either," said Beckenbauer.
"Bayern lack the lightness they had in the first half of the season. The naturalness with which the attack around Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez got the victories.
"Dortmund have regained exactly this lightness ... Dortmund even continue winning without injured Mario Goetze. That will give the young team even more confidence."
The Munich honourary president Beckenbauer said things will become even more difficult once the Champions League resumes with Munich's round of 16 date with Switzerland's Basle, with the final in Munich's home stadium. Dortmund have been eliminated from Europe and will have more rest.
"The difficult time with the extra strain from the Champions League is yet to start. Dortmund will be sitting on the couch. And that's how they won the title last year as well," said Beckenbauer.
