For Borussia Dortmund, this season was one to get back on track and provide a response. A response to Bayern Munich's treble. Dortmund didn't play poorly last season or even underperform - it's that Bayern were determined to achieve all they could and took no prisoners. Anyways, Dortmund got back on track this season in spectacular fashion, initially.

All was looking up for Die Borussen. The signing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan looked a brilliant one. The Armenian slotted into the side and found his feet quickly, quashing any doubts that loomed over him. For first time watchers of Dortmund, you would have been forgiven if you thought Mkhitaryan was an academy product of Borussia Dortmund - he took to the club like a duck with water. Robert Lewandowski started the season how he finished the previous one; scoring. Despite continuous speculation over his future and him being all but confirmed a Bayern player, he's been firing. Frequent goals, assists and a contribution to the team from his single-striker role has done Dortmund a world of good thus far. Marco Reus has been ever-effective this term, whilst Nuri Sahin has filled the void of the injured Ilkay Gündoğan superbly. 

Dortmund had results to back up the majority of their performances this season. Their biggest one being the 3-1 defeat of fierce rivals, Schalke, away at the Veltins Arena. Demolishing of Stuttgart 6-1 and defeating Arsenal in the first fixture between the two sides had shown only positive signs for Dortmund.

However, two games against Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the space of four days has spun Dortmund's season upside down. Football proving again just how quickly it can change, within a matter of days. 

Dortmund's 1-0 loss to the hands of Arsenal, at the Westfalenstadion has left there Champions League aspirations in danger as being crushed, In the group stage. Considering they were runners-up in the tournament last time around, being eliminated in the group stage would be a blow of epic proportions. Dortmund find themselves three points behind group leaders Arsenal and second-place Napoli. It's still achievable for them to qualify, but it's going to be extremely tight. Dortmund can forget about the knockout rounds of if they drop anymore points. They need maximum pointsfrom their fixtures against Marseille and Napoli to progress. The pressure has been taken up a few levels for Klopp and his boys. 

If their Champions League chances weren't already a disappointment from this season, their Bundesliga chances have been thrown in the mix. A 2-1 defeat away to Wolfsburg has virtually put the sword to their title hopes, already. Having only played sixteen games in the two competitions combined and they could be considered nearly over; alarm bells should be ringing. Away to Wolfsburg, didn't played relatively well. The home side were slightly more controlling and had a few more chances than Dortmund, which is a rarity, especially this season. However, Dortmund maintained their fluidity in that performance - but ultimately it wasn't enough. 

It's worrying times for all associated to Dortmund. As if their current predicament wasn't bad enough, it gets worse. Their next Bundesliga fixture is against Bayern Munich. The only plus side of this is the fact that Dortmund host the match, at the Westfalenstadion. If that can even be considered an advantage is dubious. Bayern Munich are not the side that Dortmund will want to face next weekend. Dortmund's starting XI will have to play out of their skin to take three points from this fixture in an attempt to salvage their season. Why? Bayern Munich are currently on a thrity-seven unbeaten run in the Bundesliga - breaking the record set by Kevin Keegan's Hamburg side of 1982/83.

Mentally, Bayern have the advantage by a considerable distance going into this fixture. Mentally, it's a huge test for Dortmund. Do they have the characters within the squad to respond? Can Dortmund topple Bayern's run?

Dortmund's predicament has raised the stakes for the approaching fixture in what becomes one of the largest fixtures between these two sides in recent times. An unmissable game next Saturday.

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About the author
Liam  Lee
Bundesliga writer