Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic was involved in a war of the words with Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke this weekend as a thrilling Bundesliga title race took another unexpected turn.

Reigning champions Bayern remain on course to wrap up a seventh successive title, but missed the chance to pull clear of Dortmund as both sides dropped points this weekend.

Ahead of Saturday's derby with Schalke, Dortmund CEO Watzke claimed that "70 percent of Germans" wanted his club to win the title, and that hardly anybody would turn up to celebrate if Bayern were crowned champions.

"When they celebrate in the (Munich central square) Marienplatz, there will be about 3000 people and maybe 1500 tourists there."

"In Dortmund, the title celebration is another thing entirely."

Watzke's side promptly lost 4-2 to rivals Schalke, giving Bayern the chance to pull four points clear on Sunday, and Bayern sporting director Salihamidzic couldn't resist a sarcastic response.

"Maybe we will invite Mr Watzke to our title celebration, then he will see that there are many thousands of people there," he told Sky on Sunday.

Yet Salihamidzic was also forced to eat his words after Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by strugglers Nuremberg.

Bayern are now two points ahead of Dortmund with three games to go, and still have to face top four sides RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Dortmund coach Lucien Favre declared the title race over after Saturday's crushing derby defeat, but Watzke contradicted him on Sunday.

"We will only give up when we have no mathematical chance anymore, we owe that to the fans," he told kicker magazine.