Saturday evening’s epic clash between Dortmund and Bayern has attracted huge interest around the globe, as 207 of world governing body FIFA’s 209 member nations will broadcast the Bundesliga’s biggest fixture live, a new record for the German top flight. Bayern and Dortmund share the previous record of 204 countries, set in matches earlier this season - when FCB travelled to Leverkusen on Matchday 8 and BVB played Ruhr Valley rivals Schalke on Matchday 10.
History of the fixture favours FCB
Previous meetings between the men from Munich and Borussia Dortmund have often been very close, but the overall record in the fixture shows Bayern comfortably in the lead. Of the 102 competitive matches between the clubs the Bavarians have won 46 and lost only 26, with 30 draws. Recent history also favours the treble winners, as FCB have lost just once in the last six meetings, the 4–2 defeat in the pre-season German Super Cup. By contrast, the Reds emerged victorious on three occasions, including last season’s 1–0 DFB Cup quarter-final victory, and the 2–1 triumph in the Champions League final at Wembley last May.
Munich aim to continue away streak
The reigning champions’ confidence will be boosted by a remarkable run away from home: Bayern are undefeated in their last 24 top-flight matches on the road (20 wins, 4 draws) and have kept 14 clean sheets in that time. Thomas Müller and company scored at least once in every single one of those games. However, Munich’s league record in Dortmund is less convincing with 12 wins, 14 defeats and 18 draws. Bayern last won away to Dortmund in September 2009, a thumping 5–1 success.
Gräfe in charge
Manuel Gräfe from Berlin is the referee for Saturday’s match. The 40-year-old sports scientist has taken charge of games involving Bayern 32 times, most recently in the 4–0 victory away to Schalke in mid-September. Gräfe has already refereed two meetings between Bayern and Borussia, with BVB winning both: 3–1 in February 2011 and 3–2 in January 2007. Gräfe’s assistants are Guido Kleve (Nordhorn) and Markus Sinn (Stuttgart), with Knut Kircher (Rottenburg) as the fourth official.
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