BVB vs. FCB: Fuss explains what makes Lewy and Haaland different

Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Bayern: The Bundesliga giants will compete on Saturday. Wolff-Christoph Fuss is once again there for Sky. In the interview, the commentator talks about the comparisons between Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski, the criticism of BVB coach Lucien Favre, and the polarizing personality David Alaba.

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Mr. Fuss, Borussia Dortmund against FC Bayern is also the duel between Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski.

The Wolff-Christoph rampage: Haaland is on his way to becoming Lewandowski. I am confident that you will do this class in the short to medium term. Two absolutely defining figures for their clubs. Both can decide the match for Dortmund or Bayern.

What is the difference between the two?

The biggest difference is undoubtedly the experience and this incredible level of performance over the years. Lewandowski knows both sides of this duel. He is one of the defining characters in the recent history of this game. I have the impression that Haaland is a bit faster and is built a bit wider by design. Lewandowski went back to working on himself before last season and became even more physically stable. He has gained in athleticism and dynamism, which is unusual for this age. Haaland, of course, brings a lot. It was born as a force of nature. What he lacks compared to Lewandowski is routine in the really big games.

Is Haaland even more of that classic type of razor?

No. They both have classic center-forward instincts. If you see typical Haaland goals, where he runs from door to door, it shows his special quality. This God-given dynamic, almost like a machine.

Read also: This is how you see Borussia Dortmund against FC Bayern Munich live on television

One foot on FC Bayern: “Edelrösser” like Lewandowski needs breaks

Despite his goals, Lewandowski looked very tired on the pitch recently, for example in the Super Cup against Dortmund. Does Bayern manager Hansi Flick have to take him out more often?

That’s so. Noble horses, who walk a lot, need a break in the middle of their busy schedule. Lewandowski is so driven by ambition that Hansi Flick hardly dares to eliminate him after 80 minutes. Because Lewandowski thinks: “Ten minutes, I can still score four to five goals.” Still, Flick has to be careful with resources in these tight weeks. He did not appoint him to the Cologne team so that he would not even be tempted. Otherwise, Lewandowski will watch you closely from the bench.

Sky expert “Didi” Hamann argues that Bayern will inevitably tire and weaken under this burden.

It is an almost instinctive approach that the dent occurs sometime after a great success. Why? Because it has reached all teams so far. At the moment, I don’t see any reason why Bayern should suffer so much. In some games, the way of playing was a little cheaper, adapted to the schedule. After the 1: 4 in Hoffenheim, everyone said, “You see, now the time has come!” In the end it was a slip, a whim of nature, an error in the results. After that, the Munich team returned to normal immediately.

“Favre goes very wrong”

By contrast, Borussia Dortmund stabilized defensively, particularly ahead of the Bundesliga’s top game. Lucien Favre trusts the back four, some say, finally. Is the BVB coach almost a stubborn boss always in need of advice?

Basically Lucien Favre favors the back four. In recent months, Borussia Dortmund have become more comfortable with the three-way construction. He wanted to spank the back four in the summer, but then he started again with the back three. More recently it was against very short teams, so he switched to four defenders to have one more man in midfield. You don’t have to force Lucien Favre to be happy. He knows what he does. At no point did I have the feeling that I had lost the team. I think Lucien Favre gets on very badly in public view. He’s doing a very, very good job.

“Force luck” is a good keyword. With BVB head of defense Mats Hummels, if he gets in shape, and Munich’s Jerome Boateng and Thomas Müller, there will probably be three players on the field that many German fans see on the national team.

I also. A national team has to do very well if it can do without players like Hummels, Boateng and Müller. I can understand why Jogi Löw wants to give younger players a chance. However, my understanding of the national team is that the best in the country play. That is why it is incomprehensible to me that the three named are not nominated. For all three, however, it is a blessing right now. For the load. After the main game, you can use the oxygen tent for 14 days for individual entertainment.

“David Alaba will deliver at the highest level”

The focus is currently on a Bayern star who has not extended his contract: David Alaba. Home problem?

These are not unusual events for this industry. It is unusual for it to be held in public. The player has an interest in getting the best out of himself with all the negotiators involved.

On the other hand, there is the club that has the big picture in mind and has to draw economic boundaries. Everything perfectly normal. The fact that details are now being revealed is fueling a public debate. Hansi Flick is doing quite well in this situation. On the one hand, he says he understands the club, but does not understand the moment. At the same time, he knows he needs central defender Alaba. After all, he is one of the best in his field.

Flick’s first big stress test at Bayern?

I do not believe that. He has become the coach of Bayern. This includes dealing with big egos internally. I watch the most important game in German football and Hansi Flick, who is unbeaten against Borussia Dortmund. David Alaba, now in his twenties, also has enough experience. Despite this limbo, he will deliver at the highest level.

About the person: Wolff-Christoph Fuss, born 1975, is a popular soccer commentator. The Hessian native, who lives in Munich, worked for Premiere, Sport1, ESPN and Sat.1. Since 2012 he has been commenting on Bundesliga and Champions League matches for the pay TV channel Sky. In the classic between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern, Fuss will be there again live as a commentator for Sky Deutschland on Saturday.