Heimspiele » extended it to 46-36 on a 3-pointer by Neal with 46 seconds

FRANKFURT - In the past few years, showdowns between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were the highlight matches of the Bundesliga seasons. Dortmund usually came out on top, even if Bayern claimed the title at the end.This season, it is another Borussia, the one from Moenchengladbach, which is turning into Bayerns closest challenger, holding the defending champions to a 0-0 draw last week.Dortmund, on the other hand, is languishing near the bottom following a terrible start. Less than a third into the season, Dortmund is already 14 points behind leader Bayern and faces an uphill struggle just to make it into the Champions League places.Dortmund must now travel to Munich, while Moenchengladbach hosts Hoffenheim.Here are some things to know about this weekends matches in the Bundesliga:___DORTMUNDS TROUBLESHit by a series of injuries, Dortmund has lost its last four matches in the Bundesliga and has the most defeats of all teams at six. It is one point away from the danger zone.Instead of being a title challenger, Dortmund now must fear about reaching a European competition next season.Bayern, however, produces the best in Dortmund, which has not lost in its last four visits to Munich. Bayern has started the season with six victories and three draws.___ROBBENS THREATBayern winger Arjen Robben is Dortmunds main concern, having scored five goals in the last five matches against the team, including in last seasons German Cup final. He also scored the winner in the Champions League final between the two clubs in 2013.With Robben on the field, Bayern has five victories in five league matches, without the often-injured Dutchman, Bayern has only one victory in four matches.Robben missed the 0-0 draw in Moenchengladbach and the 3-1 victory in Hamburg in the German Cup on Wednesday because of a leg injury.But I think its going to work out (for Saturday), Robben said.___KAGAWA FACTORThe return of Shinji Kagawa could also work in Dortmunds favour. The Japan midfielder has played four times against Bayern and all four were Dortmund victories.Back in Dortmund after an unhappy spell at Manchester United, Kagawa proved his worth again when he scored one and set up another in Dortmunds 3-0 German Cup victory at St. Pauli.St. Pauli plays in the second division but Dortmund will take any victory it can as it tries to shore up its shaken confidence.___MISSING LEWANDOWSKIRobert Lewandowskis departure for Bayern has severely blunted Dortmunds attack. After nine matches last season, Dortmund was second behind Bayern with 22 goals scored. It has only 10 goals at the same stage this season.Trying to fill the void, Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp has been rotating three strikers, Ciro Immobile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adrian Ramos. But sporting director Michael Zorc thinks Dortmund has a different problem.Weve made unbelievable mistakes in the defence, like never before, Zorc said.Dortmund has conceded 15 goals.___UNBEATEN RIVALSApart from Bayern, two other teams are unbeaten — Moenchengladbach and Hoffenheim. The two, along with Wolfsburg, are four points behind Bayern.Sundays match in Moenchengladbach should prove a thriller. Both teams play attractive, attacking football and both are coming off German Cup victories.Moenchengladbach was the first team to stretch Bayern this season and the champions had goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to thank for coming away with a point.Lucian Favres team could match a club record if it stays unbeaten on Sunday. The Moenchengladbach team of the 1970-71 season went unbeaten in its first 17 matches in all competitions and Favres side is match short of the mark. Cheap Cam Fowler Jersey . 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The All Blacks played their best rugby of recent years when they beat South Africa 38-27 in Johannesburg two weeks ago, clinching the Rugby Championships in a match which has been hailed as one of the best ever played.NORMAN, Okla. -- Ryan Spanglers intense play has fueled Oklahomas growth this season. The sophomore forward had 15 points and a career-high 17 rebounds to help the 23rd-ranked Sooners defeat No. 8 Oklahoma State 88-76 on Monday night. Spangler, in his first season playing for Oklahoma after transferring from Gonzaga, has displayed an energy level that has helped change the Sooners from a team that could just score a lot of points into one that held Oklahoma State to 40 per cent shooting. "Ryans kind of been the cornerstone for our growth in the toughness area," Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. "I think were getting tougher. I think weve made big strides in that area." It was the first time both teams have entered a "Bedlam" rivalry game ranked since 2005. The Sooners got great efforts from a few unexpected sources. Freshman Jordan Woodard scored 17 of his 18 points in the second half and reserve Tyler Neal added a season-high 15 points for the Sooners (17-4, 6-2 Big 12), who won their fourth straight game and claimed their third win over a ranked conference opponent this season. Woodard averaged just 11 points a game and Neal averaged 5.9 coming into the game. "Thats kind of been the trademark of this team all year long -- different guys, different nights, stepping up and giving us great support," Kruger said. "We beat a great Oklahoma State team. That makes it even more satisfying." Oklahoma shot 46 per cent from the field and made 8 of 17 3-pointers. The Cowboys committed 29 fouls and were outscored 30-15 at the free throw line. Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said the poor defence and the foul trouble were related. "We didnt defend very much," he said. "When you dont defend, you put yourself in position to foul. Give them credit. They beat us off the dribble. Fouling is usually a product of being out of position." Oklahoma State guard Phil Forte said the team has to handle situations like Mondays better. &"We need to quit worrying about the refs and all that and just play," he said.dddddddddddd "Move onto the next play. Thats the most important thing." Marcus Smart had 22 points on 6-of-18 shooting and spent much of the game in foul trouble. Forte scored 20 points and made all six of his 3-point tries and Markel Brown added 18 points for the Cowboys (16-4, 4-3). OSUs LeBryan Nash, who scored a career-high 29 points against West Virginia on Saturday, fouled out with eight points in 17 minutes. Oklahoma dominated early as Oklahoma States Smart, Nash and Stevie Clark all committed two fouls in the first 12 minutes. Forte gave the Cowboys some life with two deep 3-pointers in a run that trimmed Oklahomas lead to 32-26. The Sooners extended it to 46-36 on a 3-pointer by Neal with 46 seconds left in the first half, and the Sooners led 46-38 at the break. Neal scored 10 in the first half. Smart played just 6 minutes in the first half and had six points on 2-for-4 shooting. Woodard drained a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to push Oklahomas lead to 53-41, and he later hit a 3-pointer to bump OUs lead to 13. A 3 by Frank Booker increased the Sooners lead to 16 points, then Nash committed his fourth foul with 14:17 remaining, and Clark fouled out with 12:18 to go. A 3-pointer by Smart and a dunk by Brown cut OUs lead to 64-57. Spangler scored on a putback, was fouled by Smart and made the free throw to put the Sooners up 75-62 with just over 6 minutes to play. Oklahoma State cut Oklahomas lead to six, but Woodards 3-pointer with just under 3 minutes left bumped the Sooners lead to 10. "Give them credit," Ford said. "Every time we would make a semi-run at them, they would make a big shot and we would make a silly play." The rematch is Feb. 15 at Oklahoma State. "Theyre a great team," Neal said. "Theyre going to do some good things this year, and were going to have to be ready when we play them in Stillwater." ' ' '