Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has told his players to view their league game against RB Leipzig on Saturday as a Champions League match, hoping some of their European success will rub off in the Bundesliga.

While Bayern Munich is eight points clear at the top and confirmed its domestic supremacy with a 5-0 aggregate win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund is 10th and will likely need a big late-season surge to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Are they playing badly, or are their opponents just playing worse? Whatever it is, Bayern Munich could well stumble to winning both the Bundesliga and Champions League this season.

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac is also counting on a Champions League bounce in the Bundesliga. Progression to the quarter-finals at the expense of Lille followed a 1-0 home defeat by Augsburg domestically.

Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich has squandered a two-goal lead and slumped to a 3-2 loss at home to struggling Bochum on Saturday, but Bayer Leverkusen was unable to take advantage.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl was clearly relieved after his team advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals and drew new motivation for the rest of the Bundesliga season. Dortmund advanced after a 2-1 win against Lille in the second leg of their last 16 tie.

Saturday's clash between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund will not lack any spice despite both sides in the midst of struggling domestic seasons. One to watch: Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) Despite playing in an RB Leipzig side who have struggled,

Borussia Dortmund are no longer the club where Europe's best youngsters develop but that doesn't seem to matter in the Champions League. Success in that competition can't entirely obscure the club's issues.