It’s first against second at the Allianz Arena on Saturday as Bayern host closest challengers Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga (kick-off at 18:30 CEST, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). It’s the first time since April 2023 that Der Klassiker will be played as a top-of-the-table clash. Here’s all you need to know about this Matchday 7 meeting in our preview.
Latest news from Bayern
The international break didn’t really do much for Bayern boss Vincent Kompany. “Honestly, I’m glad it’s over and we can now go again against Dortmund,” the head coach said at Friday’s pre-match press conference. You can hardly blame him, given the fact the 39-year-old has watched his team win all 10 competitive fixtures so far this season and played in such a pleasing way. Bayern could now equal Dortmund’s record for winning their opening 11 games of a season from 2015/16, but Kompany isn’t at all concerned about that stat.
Read up on the pre-match numbers:
“I don’t want us to think about some record or three points. We want to beat Dortmund. It’s as simple as that,” he demanded, while comparing game against BVB to cup ties: “It doesn’t matter if you’ve won five or lost five beforehand. You just always want to win this game.” Kompany also sees a number of similarities between the sides prior to Saturday’s meeting. Both are still yet to lose in any competition this season, while Dortmund also didn’t have the luxury of a proper pre-season after competing at the Club World Cup as well. Instead, the Belgian believes that mentality is the key: “That’s been our greatest strength so far, and probably also for Dortmund.” He therefore hopes it’ll be “a good game and a good result for us”.
Read more from Kompany ahead of the game:
Opponent: Borussia Dortmund
Given their results so far, it’s hard to argue that something isn’t coming together at Dortmund. Last season they only secured Champions League qualification on the final day, but now they look like a top side again, underlined by their 14-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga – a streak that can only be bettered across Europe’s top five leagues right now by Bayern with 15. “We’ve showed already this season that we can do really well,” said a confident BVB coach, Niko Kovač.
A former double-winning player and coach at Bayern, the ex-Croatia international took over Borussia in February and has got them back to winning ways. He believes it’s “now about proving what we’ve worked towards in a top game”. The 54-year-old may not see his side as the favourites coming to Munich, but he does believe his team can achieve something together. And he produced an interesting metaphor. “We need to be like a fist. That hurts more than a slap,” Kovač said on Thursday, suggesting his team want to hurt Bayern going forward. “Just defending doesn’t work, because Bayern’s quality is simply too great,” he concluded.
Take a closer look at Dortmund in our opposition analysis:
Team news
Kompany confirmed that Josip Stanišić is still out following his right knee injury. The boss also explained that Alphonso Davies is making good progress in his recovery from a torn cruciate ligament but will still be out for some time, like Hiroki Ito (metatarsal) and Jamal Musiala (leg and ankle). There’s doubt over the involvement of Raphaël Guerreiro after he suffered a knock in the most recent game against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Dortmund also have no new injury concerns from the international break. “Everyone healthy,” Kovač said of his squad, which is only missing longer-term absentees Emre Can, Aarón Anselmino and Julien Duranville.
Test your Klassiker knowledge with our matchday quiz:
What the coaches say
„Dortmund are a good opponent on the whole, but we’re playing at home at the Allianz Arena in front of our fans and are really up for this game.”
Vincent Kompany
„Bayern are the favourites – nobody can dispute that – but we’re an underdog who want to hurt our opponent.”
Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund)
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