Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich: Can Dortmund finally overcome Bayern in Der Klassiker
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Is home fortress the key to success over their rivals?
Borussia Dortmund are a wounded lion heading into this crucial encounter after being eliminated in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs by Atalanta.
Indeed, it was a disappointing night under the bright lights of New Balance Arena, with defensive issues being one of their undoing. Speaking to the media, head coach Niko Kovac underlined his belief that the team could improve and give their all more than they did in Bergamo.
The Black and Yellow will use Der Klassiker as a platform to redeem themselves. Niko Kovac's men are in contention for the Bundesliga title this season but are staring at an eight-point deficit at the top. Success here could see them narrow the gap to five points. See what our experts have to say in our Dortmund vs Bayern Munich prediction for more insights into the game.
Their solid home record could be key to making that happen. Impressively, the North club are the only team yet to suffer defeat this season. They are 13-2 at the Signal Iduna Park, putting them at 29 points with the second-best home record.
More importantly, they are undefeated in 16 Bundesliga games—a run they'll want to capitalise on to topple the giants Bayern Munich.
The Bavarians mean business in championship pursuit
Bayern Munich might have defeated Borussia Dortmund in the first Der Klassiker fixture of the season, but that doesn't mean they'll want to underestimate their opponents.
The German giants are comfortable leaders in the Bundesliga standings in their bid to retain the championship. So far, 60 points have been accumulated from 23 games. It's hard to ignore the numbers behind their success as they boast the league's best offensive (GF 85) and defensive record (GA 21).
Vincent Kompany's men are unbeaten in six games across all competitions, and this includes a nervy 3-2 home league win against Eintracht Frankfurt last time out. That marked their third consecutive win, scoring three or more goals in each of those outings.
Harry Kane, who has been lethal in front of goal this season, bagged a brace in that match. He moved onto 28 goals with that performance—the league's highest. More importantly, it was another reminder of the nightmare he poses to opposition centre-backs.
Head-to-Head Meetings: Who has the edge?
Bayern Munich have been the dominant team in Der Klassiker. In their past 138 matches in all competitions, the German giants have come out on top 68 times, while Borussia Dortmund have managed 33 wins during this period.
Vincent Kompany's men won the previous matchup between these two sides 2-1. It was a much-needed win for them, considering they had been on a three-match winless run.
Borussia Dortmund could have their backs against the wall in this one, especially at home, where they've failed to register a win against their rivals since November 2018, losing 3-2.
