Only post-Christmas perfection is likely to see Bayern collar Dortmund

The scenario in Germany is all too familiar. One of the biggest clubs in the country leads the Bundesliga by a significant margin as the winter break looms but, for once, Bayern Munich do not top the charts.

Lucien Favre’s exciting Dortmund side, spearheaded by Marco Reus and brilliant 18-year-old Englishman Jadon Sancho, are setting the pace and odds-on to put an end to six years of Bayern dominance.

• Bundesliga standings and statistics

Bookmakers see it as a virtual two-horse race with the assumption that Bayern’s class will see them bridge the gap after Christmas, but manager Niko Kovac has had a difficult first few months in the Bavarian hotseat and even an improved second half of the campaign may not be enough to save his job.