Borussia Dortmund will need to stop the seemingly unstoppable at Bayern Munich on Saturday to retain any realistic hopes of defending its Bundesliga title.
Dortmund is already 11 points behind the league leaders, who have won 12 games from 14 and lost only once, becoming the fastest side in 50 years of the Bundesliga to claim the unofficial title of "autumn champion."
Dortmund dropped to third after stumbling to a 1-1 draw with promoted Fortuna Duesseldorf on Tuesday, its fifth draw. Another setback on Saturday would surely end its hopes of a third consecutive title.
Dortmund defender Neven Subotic said his side always bounces back from a negative result.
"That's one of our hallmarks," Subotic said.
Bayern has lost its last two home league games to Dortmund, and is relishing the prospect of revenge.
Its 2-1 win over Dortmund in the German Supercup in August ended a run of five consecutive defeats to the league and cup champion.
"Everyone is looking forward to the top game," Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said. "Especially us players."
Bayern kept its 10th clean sheet in the Bundesliga in Wednesday's hard-fought 2-0 win in Freiburg, where coach Jupp Heynckes rested midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger with an eye on Saturday's game.
"Bastian has played in every game the last weeks," Heynckes said. "He's the player who delivers the big performances. So it was appropriate to give him a rest."
Arjen Robben is also working to be fit, but Bayern has such strength in depth that the Dutchman's absence with a torn muscle has barely been felt the last two weeks.
Mario Gomez made his first start following his comeback from ankle surgery in August, giving Heynckes the luxury of three top-class forwards up front. Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro had already chipped in 18 goals across all competitions, including the Supercup.
Bayern is driven by the ignominy of two years without a title and it started the Bundesliga with eight wins in a row, with no goals conceded in its first five away games, while it has scored 40 in all and conceded only five — a record after 14 games.
Bayern's players are careful not to let the platitudes go to their heads.
"The 'autumn championship' means nothing. You could see that last year," said Toni Kroos, referring to Bayern's second-place finish despite leading at the winter break.
Dortmund was without playmaker Mario Goetze, midfielder Ilkay Guendogan and defender Mats Hummels because of injuries against Duesseldorf, but they are all likely to return.
"Ultimately there are 'only' three points at stake there. The two points would have done us well today," Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl said after Tuesday's draw.
Kehl was making his return after a knee cap problem, and came off with about 20 minutes remaining to keep fresh for Saturday.
"Of course we'll try to win. But Bayern have a huge lead and they're playing consistent football," Kehl said.