Allianz Arena will host the latest instalment of Der Klassiker on Saturday, with Bayern Munich set for a season-defining clash against Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich locking horns with Borussia Dortmund is always a big game. But this is one carrying huge significance in context to the Bundesliga title race as the two rivals are separated by just one point at the top of the German top-flight standings.
Bayern proved over the international break that they are called the “FC Hollywood” for a reason. While other teams were enjoying a relatively peaceful break ahead of the business end of the season, this was not so much the case in Bavaria. And it has been a rollercoaster of a week at the Allianz Arena following the chaos surrounding their managerial appointment.
Out of the blue, headlines emerged that the German juggernaut had decided to part ways with current boss Julian Nagelsmann despite losing only three games all season and advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals in resounding fashion. The Bavarians had lined up Thomas Tuchel as their preferred replacement.
Fast forward several days: Nagelsmann got the sack, and Tuchel has been unveiled as the new boss. While the former Borussia Dortmund boss was swiftly appointed, he faces a baptism of fire against his old club in a debut Der Klassiker in what looks to be the most important game of the season.
Borussia Dortmund have had a sensational 2023 so far. And since the return of football action after the World Cup, Edin Terzic’s side have made a staggering jump from sixth to first, winning nine out of their ten games since the turn of the year.
While their Champions League run ended abruptly at the hands of Chelsea, it also leaves them with fewer matches to focus on in other competitions, allowing them to concentrate solely on the Bundesliga and mount a genuine title bid.
However, their encounter against Bayern will put their title credentials and mental fortitude to the test. The Bavarians are in the unusual scenario of trailing with nine games left in the season, although Dortmund are just one point ahead of them. A BVB win here could have huge ramifications, demonstrating that they have the resolve to end Bayern’s dominance in Germany’s top division.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
BVB 🔜 pic.twitter.com/w9ULGWtNfZ
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 30, 2023
In a massive boost for the Bavarians, Jamal Musiala might be fit just in time for the game. He missed Germany’s games over the international break due to a thigh problem but is in contention to feature here, at least from the bench. Meanwhile, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has also recovered from back trouble and could even start the match. But Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer are still out with long-term injuries.
One positive for new boss Thomas Tuchel is that Julian Nagelsmann predominantly used a back-three system towards the end of his tenure. So the players would be familiar with it. At Chelsea, Tuchel emphasised creating chances from the wing-backs to add another dimension and make their attack more potent.
With Alphonso Davies and Joao Cancelo, he has arguably the world’s best attacking wing-back pairing. The former Champions League winner also stresses the importance of building from the back and using long balls, especially down the wings to the wide men.
Yann Sommer has taken over in goal in Neuer’s absence. Meanwhile, the Bayern back three of Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, and Matthijs de Ligt are all comfortable on the ball and have let in the least amount of goals in the Bundesliga this season.
It is anticipated that Leon Goretzka will return to the midfield. There, he will sit at the base of the midfield alongside Joshua Kimmich, looking to halt Jude Bellingham’s dangerous forward runs before supplying them out to the attackers and wing-backs.
Exactly how Tuchel lines up his attacking players remains a big question, with Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, and Sadio Mane vying for three spots.
Sane’s pace and trickery should pose plenty of problems for the BVB defence. And it looks likely he will be chosen to start on Saturday alongside Thomas Muller. Choupo-Moting might be picked to lead the line here. But it won’t be a surprise to see him swatted aside, with one of those aforementioned names playing further forward as a false nine, just like Tuchel deployed at Chelsea at times.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Sommer; Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt; Cancelo, Kimmich, Goretzka, Davies; Sane, Muller; Choupo-Moting
Borussia Dortmund
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is battling a shoulder injury. Karim Adeyemi endured a setback in his comeback from a muscle issue. As far as long-term absentees are concerned, Youssoufa Moukoko is ruled out for several weeks with an ankle ligament rupture, while Mateu Morey is on his way back from a serious knee injury.
Otherwise, Edin Terzic has been boosted by the return of key players and makes the trip to Bayern with a full squad. Emre Can is available after his suspension and could face his former club. Julian Brandt is nearing a return from a thigh injury, while Gregor Kobel should return between the sticks.
Terzic is likely to field his side in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Marius Wolf and Julian Ryerson likely to be deployed as the full-backs. The duo will look to deliver creative deliveries into the channel and the opposition box and add width during transitional moments. Nico Schlotterbeck will partner with Niklas Sule at the heart of the settled Dortmund defence.
🎙 Edin Terzic:
"We set out with the goal that we have to invest everything. We can send a signal – both to ourselves and to the competition. Tomorrow's game can set a direction, but it won't decide everything." pic.twitter.com/xOXpkQVn7h
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) March 31, 2023
In the midfield, Can will screen the back four from the base. Jude Bellingham will partner Salih Ozcan in the middle of the park. And the two players will look to add creativity and defensive cover to the side. Can will hold the defensive responsibilities, meaning Ozcan, Bellingham, and Guerreiro can focus on contributing more to the attack.
Dortmund have a potent attack capable of converting chances. And they will be cruising in confidence after netting six goals against Koln in their last outing. A big reason for that is the efficiency of Dortmund’s full-back turned midfielder Raphael Guerreiro, who ranks second in the Bundesliga for assists, setting up eight goals for his club. He will be the key to Dortmund breaching the best defence in the division.
Sebastien Haller will continue to play as the frontman. Dortmund will rely on Marco Reus to provide the spark in the final third and lead them to a victory. Both attackers bagged a brace against Koln and will be looking to keep up their scoring touch. Julian Brandt and Giovanni Reyna could also make an appearance off the bench and are likely to be deployed as the wingers here.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Kobel; Wolf, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson; Can; Reus, Ozcan, Bellingham, Guerreiro; Haller
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have won each of their last eight home league games against Borussia Dortmund.
- In 16 of the last 18 meetings between these sides saw at least three goals scored.
- Borussia Dortmund will meet Bayern Munich for the 133rd time since the Bundesliga’s inception. No other match in German professional football has been played more often.
- Bayern Munich have won only five of their 10 Bundesliga games in 2023 (D3 L2).
- Marco Reus scored his 160th and 161st goals in all competitions in a 6-1 victory over Cologne, setting a new club record in professional football. No other current Bundesliga player has scored as many league goals against Bayern Munich as Reus (8).
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham is no longer a diamond in the rough or a raw talent. He is the finished product and a world-class one. The English midfielder has become an integral part of the Borussia Dortmund setup and has been their best player across the entire season. He is making BVB tick with his energetic and exciting performances in the middle of the park, offering support in the final third while also working tirelessly in defence.
His footballing intelligence is second to none, which goes some way toward explaining why every elite European club is set to battle it out for his signature in the summer transfer window. Nonetheless, he is a BVB player at least for the next few months. And the teenager will be the key for Dortmund in this daunting title race against the Bavarians.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-2 Borussia Dortmund
This will be a tremendously important game. And all eyes will be on the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Der Klassiker fixtures between German big-hitters Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund rarely fail to capture the imagination. And with so much on the line for the top two in the Bundesliga, we expect to see more fiery and entertaining end-to-end action again involving goals in plenty.
When it comes down to it, Bayern usually get the job done against Dortmund. The arrival of Thomas Tuchel makes Saturday’s game even more exciting. So The Hard Tackle expects him to get off to a perfect start with a narrow 3-2 victory as he looks to punish his former employers.