Top German clubs worried about 'Spanish situation'

With Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund having reached the Champions League semifinals, there are concerns the German league will suffer from what is being dubbed a "Spanish situation" with the pair set to dominate the Bundesliga for years to come.

Bayern hosts Barcelona in Tuesday's semifinal first leg, having cruised to the Bundesliga title with alarming ease and a massive 20-point lead, while second-placed Dortmund, who have won the last two league titles, hosts Real Madrid on Wednesday in the last four.

Bavarian giant Bayern has won 22 of the 50 Bundesliga titles since the competition started, but this season has been extraordinary even by its lofty standards.

Having won 6-1 at Hanover 96 on Saturday to earn a record ninth away league win, Bayern has posted recent hefty wins, including a 9-2 pounding of Hamburg and a 6-1 trouncing of Werder Bremen, both traditionally strong clubs.

Dortmund is one of only four teams to have avoided losing to Bayern in the league as Munich has claimed a record 26 wins from 30 games with four matches still to go this season.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness has voiced concerns of the Bundesliga following the Spanish league, where either Barcelona or Real Madrid has shared the title every year since Valencia's win in the 2003-04 season.

"There's a big difference in performance levels in the German league," Hoeness said, having also discussed the matter with Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.

"I find the idea of two or three teams pulling away not good.

"We can't be comfortable with that."

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp compared this season's Bundesliga title-race to the Scottish league where Celtic is now dominant after the demise of Glasgow neighbor Rangers.

"Unfortunately, no, I fear more a 'Scottish situation'," said Klopp, who led Dortmund to the league and cup double last season.

"It is nice that we have climbed on board to challenge Bayern, but at the end of the day we just have to hope we can get a slice of the pie."

Dortmund's bitter rivals Schalke also said it was up to the league's other clubs to offer Bayern some competition.

(China Daily 04/23/2013 page22)