Another chapter opens up in Der Klassiker as Bayern and Dortmund hunt down the Bundesliga title

Four points between the two sides and easily one of the most important games for both sides as Dortmund needing a win to keep the pressure on Bayern.

Both teams have continued their winning form since the restart of the Bundesliga. Dortmund were able to ease past Wolfsburg in their last fixture. Goals from Raphael Guerriero and Achraf Hakimi saw the Black and Yellows keep up with Bayern.

Bayern Munich cruised past Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2. Goals from Leon Goretzka, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski saw the reigning champions 3-0 up after 46 minutes. Martin Hinteregger pulled two back for the vistors but, Bayern were too strong and two goals in the final 30 minutes confirmed the win for them.

Team news

Borussia Dortmund will be without Marco Reus as the midfielder slowly recovers from a foot injury. Dan-Axel Zagadou will also be out as he is sidelined with a knee injury. Both Axel Witsel and Mats Hummels are also doubts for BVB.

Bayern Munich will most definetely will be without creative midfielder Thiago Alcantara who is recovering from an abductor injury. Both Phillipe Coutinho and Corentin Tolisso are recovering from ankle injuries with Niklas Sule sidelined with a knee injury.

Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre has scrutinised the opponent in his latest press conference and was relieved to see Emre Can and Axel Witsel returning from injury:

“Every team has their strengths and their weaknesses, “That’s very good for us [on Witsel]and for him”. “He started to train with the team yesterday. He might be included in the squad.”

And Jadon Sancho, who has one goal, one assist and two wins in his five matches against Bayern, is also “slowly but surely getting back to his level” after having been lacking match fitness.

Bayern Munich manager Hans Flicker spoke about the danger of Borussia Dortmund and what Bayern may expect from this game:

“BVB have gained a lot of stability in defence with the switch to 3-4-3. Everyone at Dortmund is good off the ball. They then gain the possession which they need to involve their quick attacking players. We need to prevent that and close the spaces – I don’t want to reveal any more than that.

I can imagine that they’ll be defensive to start with, but if they do something different then we’ll certainly react well. In January they brought in two reinforcements, two players who bring huge character: Emre Can in defence and Erling Haaland in attack. They’re among the best teams in Europe. We have to be at our best and be prepared.”

Head-to-head

Bayern have hit nine goals without reply across the previous two Bundesliga meetings between these sides (4-0 and 5-0), but Dortmund ran out victors the last time they met at the Signal Iduna Park in the league, winning 3-2 on Matchday 11 last season. In fact, Dortmund have lost just one of the last four (W2, D1, L1) Klassiker matches on home soil.