Tuchel calls for ‘best level’ to continue Bundesliga run

It’s Der Klassiker time once again as Bayern go to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday (kick-off at 18:30 CET, coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our live text commentary and free web radio). The champions begin the weekend in second place and with the best attack in Bundesliga history after nine games with 34 goals and only two points above Dortmund in fourth. Here’s all you need to know in our preview.

Check out the photos from final training on Friday:

State of play

There’s no sugarcoating the fact that Bayern’s build-up to this important game could not have gone much worse. As well as being knocked out the DFB Cup with a 2-1 defeat at Saarbrücken on Wednesday, FCB also lost centre-back Matthijs de Ligt to injury. Bayern have to “put these setbacks behind us and stomach it”, according to head coach Thomas Tuchel at his press conference on Friday. “We were extremely disappointed,” the 50-year-old continued, but “we have no reason for resignation. We’re on a great run in the Bundesliga and have a team that we still trust. We’re going to Dortmund to win, against all the difficulties.”

Prior to the cup elimination, Bayern were on a good run. Their tally of 23 points after nine games is the club’s best for seven years. Leaders Bayer Leverkusen are within reach on 25 points. However, to get back to winning ways now, Bayern will need to step things up again for the trip to Dortmund: “The key will be that we perform to our limit, that we’re diligent in our play, and play to our best level, from the first minute till the last,” Tuchel stated.

Recap what Tuchel had to say in his press conference:

Opponent: Borussia Dortmund

Even a potential victory won’t send Borussia top of the table, but Edin Terzic’s team have been perhaps the Bundesliga’s most consistent team in 2023. They are still unbeaten in the league this season and also lead the way for most points this calendar year with 67. They have lost only one of 23 Bundesliga fixtures in 2023, but that came at the hands of Bayern at the Allianz Arena in April (4-2).

It was a result consistent with recent events in Der Klassiker, where BVB have managed just a single point from the last nine league meetings. However, their coach is optimistic for this latest encounter: “We also know that we’ve been really close in the past, especially at home.” Dortmund advanced in the DFB Cup during the week with a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim, following a battling 3-3 draw away at Eintracht Frankfurt in the league last weekend. Borussia had previously earned their first Champions League victory of the season with a 1-0 win away at Newcastle United, meaning the hosts are full of confidence ahead of Bayern’s arrival.

Read up on the facts ahead of Der Klassiker:

Personnel

As well as De Ligt, Bayern are also without the suspended Joshua Kimmich. It remains to be seen whether Noussair Mazraoui, who could only train individually during the week due to illness, or the recently injured Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Guerreiro (both muscular) and Leon Goretzka (fractured hand) will be fit to feature.

Dortmund have an almost full squad available for selection. Emre Can had been out with a dead leg but is expected to return. Marius Wolf went off injured on Wednesday but has been given the all clear from Terzic.

Remembering the time Thomas Müller scored his first two Bundesliga goals in Dortmund:

What the coaches say