Dortmund boss dismisses 'soft drink' RB Leipzig

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Borussia Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has dismissed the commercialism of Red Bull-backed RB Leipzig, but the Bundesliga new boys can make history on Friday by knocking Bayern Munich from top spot.

History makers

Second-placed RB Leipzig will become the first club to go 11 games unbeaten at the start of their debut season in Germany's top flight if they avoid defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.

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RB Leipzig, who were only founded in 2009 when the Austrian drinks giants took over a German Football League (DFL) licence, have already matched MSV Duisburg's record of 10 games unbeaten in the 1993/94 season.

A point in Leverkusen would see Leipzig top the table ahead of Bayern, who are at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening in the battle of Germany's top clubs -- dubbed 'Der Klassiker'.

Even their full name 'RasenBallsport' Leipzig offends some football fans as the former is a fabricated German word to get around the DFL rule forbidding clubs from taking a sponsor's name.

Watzke comments

'At Rasenballsport (Lawn ball sport), as they are actually called, we have the case, that nothing, absolutely nothing, has developed there historically. Football is only played there to perform for a brand of soft drink,' Watzke told magazine Sport Bild.

Their coach Ralph Hasenhuettl has rejected Watzke's criticism, insisting the squad is simply working hard for each other -- not to sell a product.

'I do not give a single thought to the idea that we are only here to perform for a can. That would be a pity,' said RB coach Ralph Hasenhuettl on Wednesday.

'Instead, I see the euphoria and the joy that we have in the city.

'That is the most important drive for me.

'We should be given the opportunity to make people happy in our own way.'