Preview: Borussia Dortmund - Bayern München
It's finally time for 'Der Klassiker' again when Borussia Dortmund and Bayern München meet at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.
| The game will be played at Signal Iduna Park. | Photo: Borussia Dortmund |
'The Bavarians' have won the Bundesliga six times in a row and are usually seen as favourites for the game. Bayern München have beaten Dortmund the last four times the pair have met (including a win after penalty shootout) and took a 6-0 win in their last encounter back in March. But a lot of things have happened since then.
Since Lucien Favre took over as Borussia Dortmund coach in the summer, the BVB have been in magnificent form. 'Die Schwarzgelben' are still to lose in the Bundesliga this season and are top of the league - four points ahead of Niko Kovac's much-criticized Bayern München side who are sitting third, behind Gladbach on goal difference.
Bayern may have won five out of their last six games, but it hasn't been with the usual superiority and confidence even though the Bavarians haven't exactly been up against the hardest opponents.
So with that in mind, who should be considered favourites this time around? The bookmakers have most faith in Bayern as usual, but the Bavarians have spent the build-up to the game underlining that they are really outsiders.
"Dortmund have played a very good season so far, so we aren't going to Dortmund as favourites, but as outsiders for the first time in a while. We have to try to play a good game and see what comes out of it. Right now, we are outsiders. To my knowledge, they are four points ahead of us," Bayern president Uli Hoeness said this week.
But although Bayern haven't been up to their usual standard this season, there is no way Dortmund will underestimate the Bavarians, BVB coach Lucien Favre has underlined.
"We're up against a team with a lot of experience. Bayern are Bayern. We want to deliver a top performance. We know that we have to be very clever in defence when we attack against Bayern," Favre said at a press conference on Thursday.
After 15 games in a row without a loss, Borussia Dortmund fell to their first defeat of the season when they were beaten 0-2 by Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. But according to Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, that's not entirely a bad thing.
"On the one hand, you think it's a shame, but on the other hand, I'm glad that our long streak is now over. That sharpens the senses for Saturday. Every team needs that now and then," the Dortmund boss told WAZ.
Predicted line-ups:
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Hitz - Piszczek, Akanji, Zagadou, Hakimi - Delaney, Witsel - Sancho, Reus, Pulisic - Paco Alcacer.
Bayern München (4-1-4-1): Neuer - Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba - Javi Martinez - Müller, James, Goretzka, Gnabry - Lewandowski.
Absentees:
Borussia Dortmund: Marcel Schmelzer is sidelined with an injury. Roman Bürki is a doubt.
Bayern München: Kingsley Coman, Thiago Alcantara and Corentin Tolisso are all ruled out with injuries. Arjen Robben is doubtful with a knee problem.
Where and when:
The match will be played on November 10, 18:30 (UTC +1) at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund.
Predicted result:
Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre is unlikely to risk too much, and Bayern can't afford to lose, so expect this to be a tight game with few goals. 0-0 or 1-1 are likely results.
