The Daily Bee: Raphael Guerreiro and Jude Bellingham Questionable for Der Klassiker

Good morning, everyone. Happy Monday.

Borussia Dortmund will face Bayern Munich next weekend, and despite being constantly plagued by injuries over the first few months of the season, there actually seems to be a chance that BVB could face Bayern with something resembling a fully fit squad. It all depends on the health of Jude Bellingham and Raphael Guerreiro. Neither player featured for the squad against Wolfsburg, but could potentially be ready for next weekend.

According to Ruhr Nachrichten, Raphael Guerreiro completed a training session on Sunday, and looks likely to make the squad against Bayern. Jude Bellingham is more questionable, and will have to be re-evaluated during the midweek before he is cleared to play against Bayern.

A note on the Ballon d’Or

The Ballon d’Or will be awarded tonight, and I couldn’t be more relieved. We’ve been subjected to months upon months of speculation about whether the award will go to Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho, or any number of competitors. The constant arguing has gotten on my nerves, as has the downright embarrassing public sympathy campaign that Lewandowski and Bayern Munich have conducted to try to win him the award. In 2020, when France Football chose not to award the Ballon d’Or, Bayern and Poland fans responded with a barrage of nonsensical and borderline-conspiratorial theories about how FF’s decision was a personal slight against Lewandowski.

Does Lewandowski deserve to win it? Probably. Would it be hilarious if he didn’t? Absolutely. You know what to do, France Football.

The Daily Buzz

Who will win the Ballon d’Or tonight?