Top two clash might decide Bundesliga title

Leaders Dortmund go into the biggest game of the campaign three points clear of second-placed Bayern and knowing a win would be a huge step toward defending its title.

"We had around 450,000 ticket requests," Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke said.

"Many people did not even bother asking either since they knew they would have had no chance."

Victory for Dortmund would give them a six-point advantage with just four games to go, but a Bayern win would put them top due to its superior goal difference.

However, Watzke insists nothing will be decided this Wednesday, although he feels the title will be Dortmund's if they follow up a win over Bayern by beating Schalke next weekend.

"Purely mathematically, it is impossible," he told Sky television.

"I will stick my neck out and say that, if after next weekend, we have a six-point advantage, then goal difference will not come into it.

"We know how to proceed if we win, but on the other hand, if Bayern win, life still goes on.

"They are going to drop points somewhere and we then have to be ready."

Third-placed Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach are fighting for the third place in the group stages of the Champions League next season.

Gladbach travel to Werder Bremen on Tuesday night, while Schalke head to Nurnberg.

Behind them, Stuttgart are leading the chase for three places in the Europa League and it can strengthen its claim with a win at Augsburg on Tuesday night.

Rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Hannover are both in action on Wednesday with home games against Kaiserslautern and Wolfsburg respectively. The Wolves also harbour European ambitions.

At the bottom of the table, Kaiserslautern appear destined to relegation and its fate could be all but mathematically sealed on Tuesday night should fellow strugglers Cologne win in Mainz.

Hertha Berlin's future would also look a lot bleaker if they fail to beat Freiburg, who know a win would practically end its fears of automatic relegation as it would give them an eight-point cushion over the bottom two.

Finally, Hamburg travel to Hoffenheim on Wednesday looking to build on its two-game unbeaten run and keep the bottom three behind them.