Borussia Dortmund welcome reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich Der Klassiker at Westfalenstadion on Saturday.
The match between Dortmund and Bayern Munich is one of the most anticipated match in the German Bundesliga fixtures.
Match Preview
The home team defeated Hoffenheim 1-0 at home in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, extending their winning streak to eight games in all competitions.
Marco Reus, a club legend, scored in the first half to put BVB back on the winning track and secure their spot in the DFB-Pokal last 16 just two days after their exciting 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Now that they have won six and drew three of their first nine games this season, Dortmund turns their attention back to the Bundesliga, where they are currently ranked fourth. Only twice in history, in 2002–03 and 2018–19, have Dortmund gone undefeated in their first nine games of the season.
Dortmund have enjoyed a remarkable run this season with them winning 17 of their 20 games played at the Westfalenstadion since August 2022, with only one of their three home losses coming in a 2-2 draw with Bayern in October of last year.
Three days after demolishing SV Darmstadt 8-0 in the Bundesliga, which featured three red cards in the first half and a hat-trick from Harry Kane, Bayern Munich lost 2-1 on the road to 3. Liga side Saarbrucken in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, in one of their most embarrassing losses ever.
Despite having 75% of the possession and 18 shots on goal, Patrick Sontheimer cancelled out Thomas Muller’s opening goal in the 16th minute, and Marcel Gaus’ stunning equalizer in the 96th minute drove the home crowd into frenzy.
Sporting director Christoph Freund criticized Bayern for their “unacceptable” performance, and head coach Thomas Tuchel refuted claims that his team was “arrogant” or that they were playing too lightly against their third-tier opponents, saying instead that his players “lacked the punch” needed to cross the finish line.
Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich Team News
Emre Can might not feature in the Saturday’s match due to a knee ailment that has kept him out of the last two games and Julien Duranville is still out due to a thigh issue.
Can’s probable absence would allow Salih Ozcan to stay in center midfield, with Felix Nmecha or Marcel Sabitzer, a former player for Bayern Munich, joining the Turk in the middle of the pitch.
With a slight tear of his knee ligament, Matthijs de Ligt may be out for four to six weeks for Bayern.
Tarek Buchmann is also out with a hamstring injury, while Joshua Kimmich will serve a two-match suspension after receiving a red card against Darmstadt.
Due to a slight muscular ailment, Dayot Upamecano may be able to return to the starting lineup, replacing De Ligt. At right back, Noussair Mazraoui is expected to take Bouna Sarr’s position.
Probable Line-Up
Borussia Dortmund probable starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Can; Malen, Reus, Brandt; Fullkrug
Bayern Munich probable starting lineup:
Neuer; Mazraoui, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Laimer, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich Prediction
The last eight meeting between these two teams have seen at least four goals and we are onto another round of action this Saturday from the Bundesliga giants.
Dortmund will be looking to take advantage of the midweek disappoitment at Bayerns end but we believe Tuchel’s men will claim all three points.
Futballnews is predicting that Harry Kane led Bayern Munich will defeat Dortmund 3-2 at the Westfalenstadion on Saturday, 4th November, 2023.
