The two clubs with loyal fanbases unlike many others, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have the highest average attendances in Europe over recent years and this fixture livens the screens across the world including the infamous 80,000+ seater Signal Iduna Park.
One of the greatest fixtures in the history of football graces our screens again, it’s Der Klassiker! A matchup that is not a derby, but a clash of status, of history, and of all importance in who has the edge in possibly winning the Bundesliga.
Bundesliga | Saturday 4 December | Signal Iduna Park | 19:30
Borussia Dortmund 5/2
Bayern Munich 17/20
Borussia Dortmund
Last season was successful for Borussia Dortmund! A good late showing in the league, followed up with a great semi-final appearance in the Champions League, and most importantly winning the DfB-Pokal over Bayern’s current coach Julian Nagelsmann. Last season was seemingly an indication of the Black and Yellows being on the up and up, but the start of the 2021/22 campaign has been nothing of the sort. The first competitive matchup for Dortmund was a 3-1 loss at home to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup. The league campaign has been rather impressive losing just three of their 13 fixtures to date scoring a staggering 33 goals second only to Bayern Munich. Outside of the domestic campaign, Dormtund’s successes last season in Europe were non-existent this time around and before the final day of the group stages BvB have already been knocked out without hope of even placing in Europa League.
Marco Rose has found seemingly found life difficult this season, but there are some positives to embrace. His top goal scorer Erling Haaland returned last gameweek (second only to Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga) and found the back of the net like he always does. Rose finds himself in a unique position to leapfrog the opposition with a win. He knows his team can find the back of the net having scored in 17 of their 19 fixtures to date. The big question would definitely be the defensive structure which Dortmund can’t seem to fix.
Doubts for the game: Jude Bellingham, Thorgan Hazard, Raphael Guerreiro, Giovanni Reyna, Marcel Schmelzer, Mateu Bauza, Luca Unbehaun & Youssoufa Moukoko
Borussia Dortmund FORM GUIDE: WWLWW
Bayern Munich FORM GUIDE: WLWWW
Bayern Munich
Julian Nagelsmann is praised for his cutting-edge tactics, and is constantly analysed by statisticians, pundits and football fans alike. No matter the praise he receives something does however seem to not click every now and again since joining Bayern Munich. The new innovating manager has taken what works at Bayern and tweaked it to his style ever so slightly. There have been some defensive question marks when Bayern can’t take a grip of the game and that has left the juggernauts wanting on three separate occasions. Losses to Eintracht Frankfurt and Augsburg in the league and a massive 5-0 thumping in the DfB Pokal means there are things to exploit in Bayern’s game.
Robert Lewandowski is still finding the net, and finding it frequently, while Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry and the reintroduction and confidence in Thomas Muller has been crucial in this season’s success. The young stunner that continues to impress, even in the biggest of fixtures is Jamal Musiala. Four goals and five assists for the young German in all competitions when playing alongside such stars is a great accomplishment.
While three two losses for Bayern so early into the season is alarming, it is under a new manager trying to implement his identity on the team. This fixture will be crucial in winning defending the title, as it is every other season, but more so with there being a single point holding the number one spot in favour of Bayern.
Doubts for the game: Joshua Kimmich, Marcel Sabitzer, Tanguay Nianzou, Eric Coupa-Moting, Bouna Sarr & Sven Ulreich
Prediction: Bayern Munich + BTTS (Yes) (17/10)
While Bayern have not been at there best, they still sit on top of the table. It is possible for Dortmund to find the net, especially with Erling Haaland back up and running. Marco Rose has urged his team to take the opportunities that may come their way against Bayern, and I do believe they can. Even with my confidence in the BvB finding the net, Bayern will always leave Dortmund second best and the recent records are true to the statement with Die Roten winning eight of the last 10 fixtures. Bayern Munich to win and Both Teams To Score (Yes) at 17/10.
