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Watzke's Bayern Bromance: BVB Chief Tips Rekordmeister for European Domination
Borussia Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke has lavished praise on Bayern Munich after their recent wins, calling them Europe's best team amid a potential treble push. Despite BVB's strong Bundesliga campaign with 61 points and record transfer investments, Watzke admits Bayern ultimately decide the title race. Dortmund eye second place securely while reflecting on their Champions League exit to Atalanta.
Watzke's Bayern Bromance: BVB Chief Tips Rekordmeister for European Domination
Imagine the scene: Borussia Dortmund's big boss Hans-Joachim Watzke is basically Bayern Munich's biggest fanboy right now. After the Rekordmeister nicked a nail-biting 3-2 win over HSV at the weekend, Watzke couldn't hold back his admiration. It's like your rival pub team just smashed it, and you're buying the first round.
He was especially buzzing about Bayern's double dispatch of Atalanta Bergamo in the Champions League – the very side that knocked BVB out in the play-offs. "I've seldom cheered a Bayern win this hard; it was proper dominant," Watzke told Sky. Under Vincent Kompany, the Bavarians are firing on all cylinders, and Watzke reckons they're "the best team in Europe right now".
Treble Dreams and Tough Ties Ahead
Bayern's season is shaping up to be legendary. The Bundesliga title feels like a done deal, but they're eyeing that elusive treble for the third time in club history. Next up? Real Madrid in the Champions League quarters and Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal semis – talk about a gauntlet thrown down.
Kompany's lads have that swagger, turning heads continent-wide. Watzke's not wrong; their Atalanta demolition was chef's kiss stuff. If they navigate Madrid and Leverkusen, we'll be toasting history in Munich.
Meanwhile, over in Dortmund, things are rosy but with a cheeky asterisk. BVB sit pretty on 61 points from 27 Bundesliga matches, already topping last season's haul of 57. They're on pace to smash the 82-point record from Jürgen Klopp's 2012 title charge. Second place? Locked in, with an 11-point cushion over the pack – though VfB Stuttgart could chip away against FC Augsburg today.
The Bayern Shadow and BVB's Big-Money Buys
But Watzke's brutally honest: "Bayern decide if you can lift the Bundesliga crown." That Bergamo heartbreak lingers – a proper bad day at the office that stung like a dodgy kebab after closing time. Still, he admits BVB's league form is mint, their best points tally since 2016.
No dwelling on woes, though. Dortmund's transfer market flex deserves a shout. Here's their priciest punts:
| Player | Position | Signed From | Year | Fee |
|--------|----------|-------------|------|-----|
| Ousmane Dembélé | Forward | Stade Rennes | 2016 | €35.5m |
| Sébastien Haller | Forward | Ajax | 2022 | €31m |
| Mats Hummels | Defence | Bayern Munich | 2019 | €30.5m |
| Jobe Bellingham | Midfield | Sunderland | 2025 | €30.5m |
| Jude Bellingham | Midfield | Birmingham City | 2020 | €30.15m |
That's some serious dough splashed on talent. From Dembélé's flair to the Bellingham brothers' engine room graft, Watzke's crew means business. Sure, Bayern loom large, but with this squad and form, BVB could make the title race a proper scrap.
In the end, Watzke's praise is a nod to Bayern's brilliance while keeping Dortmund's fire lit. It's class from the BVB chief – rivalry with respect. As the run-in heats up, we'll see if Kompany's men can back the hype and if Dortmund can finally crash that Bayern party. Prost to that!
(Adapted from reporting on Goal.com)