Dortmund hope for Haaland return to keep pressure on Bayern

Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland celebrates on the pitch before being awarded with the trophy for the best champions League’ striker of the last season prior the UEFA Champions League Group C football match between BVB Borussia Dortmund and Sporting CP in Dortmund, western Germany, on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Ina Fassbender / AFP)

Borussia Dortmund hope to have Norwegian star Erling Haaland back for Sunday’s game with struggling Augsburg and could end the weekend with the gap between them and Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich down to three points.

Dortmund’s reason to be optimistic about this scenario is despite them being infuriatingly inconsistent this season, Bayern’s form has also faltered of late.

A shock 4-2 defeat by lowly VfL Bochum was followed by Bayern requiring a late equaliser in their Champions League last 16 first leg match with RB Salzburg, and a below par performance despite the 4-1 scoreline against bottom side Greuther Fuerth last weekend.

Dortmund go into Sunday’s game on the back of a 6-0 thumping of Borussia Moenchengladbach but typically in their campaign this term came days after being soundly beaten by Rangers in their Europa League play-off first leg clash.

Haaland missed Thursday’s second leg with the Scottish side — the fifth match he sat out due to his groin injury — despite returning to training with the reserves at the beginning of the week.

“He still needs a little more time,” explained Dortmund coach Marco Rose.

“He is trying to get back to full fitness, he is making huge efforts, but he is still a fair bit away from being 100%.

“His groin injury has improved a bit. He has to be 100% without pain to be able to play.”

The leaders face a potentially tricky trip on Saturday to