Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan believes his team are the only ones who can beat Bayern Munich, even though he is not going to be involved in Saturday’s big Bundesliga clash.


Gundogan is currently recovering from a troublesome back injury which has kept him out for much of the season so far, but he has every faith in his team-mates to beat Bayern.


They then face Napoli in a make-or-break Champions League tie and the Germany international is convinced that two wins over the next week will turn the Westphalians’ season around.


“Both of these games are crucially important,” he said.


“It would be sensational for us if we could get six points out of them.”


Getting three points on Saturday would end Bayern’s record-breaking 37-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga.


If anybody is going to stop the Bavarians, Gundogan feels it is Dortmund.


“They are the toughest side in Germany and possibly all Europe,” he said in Kicker magazine.


“But we showed in the Champions League final and in the Supercup at the end of July that we are probably the only team around right now who can cause Bayern problems.”


Being only able to follow such games from the sidelines is starting to frustrate Gundogan, who cannot forecast when he will be back in action, such is the delicate and unpredictable nature of a nerve problem in his back.


“I’m very, very impatient,” said the 23-year-old. “It hurts to have to watch for so long, but it’s going to take a bit of time yet.”