It's the fixture in German football that never gets old! FC Bayern host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening (18:30 CET) for the standout fixture of Matchday 24. Whether legendary league games, DFB Cup finals in Berlin or the unforgettable final of the Champions League in 2013 - whenever these two teams meet, very special moments are guaranteed. Ahead of the 128th encounter, fcbayern.com takes a look at the most important records from the battles between the Reds and the Black and Yellows.
Biggest goal threat: Robert Lewandowski
Whether for BVB or Bayern, Robert Lewandowski has already scored 24 times in Der Klassiker.
Robert Lewandowski has already notched up 17 Bundesliga goals against Dortmund - more than any other Bayern player, and even surpassing Gerd Müller (14). The reigning Best FIFA Men's Player is also the only player besides Roland Wohlfahrt to have always scored at least once in four straight editions of Der Klassiker. Across all competitions, Lewandowski has scored 11 goals in the last 10 meetings. In total, he's actually netted 24 times in this clash across all competitions and clubs - 19 times for Bayern and five times for Dortmund.
Youngest player: Tanko ahead of Musiala
Dortmund's Ibrahim Tanko (right) and Bayern's Jamal Musiala are the youngest players to play in this fixture.
In October 1994, at the age of just 17 years and 88 days, Ibrahim Tanko came off the bench for BVB against Bayern. Hence the former striker is the youngest player ever to appear in Der Klassiker. Nuri Sahin, on the other hand, is the youngest professional player to also feature in the starting XI (17 years and 103 days). In the Supercup last September, Jamal Musiala came off the bench against Dortmund at the age of 17 years and 217 days, making him the youngest-ever Bayern player in this fixture.
Current most experienced players: Müller & Lewandowski
Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski have both made 36 appearances in Der Klassiker.
Of the current squads of both clubs, Robert Lewandowski is "Mr Klassiker". Across all competitions, the striker has made a total of 36 appearances in this fixture - 14 against and 22 for FC Bayern. The Pole has also celebrated the most wins among current players (20). Thomas Müller (36 games for Bayern) is the player with the most appearances for just the one club.
Highest FCB win: A dozen goals in highest-scoring match
The 11-1 against BVB from the 1971/72 season is still FC Bayern's highest win in the Bundesliga.
Twelve goals were scored in the match between Bayern and Dortmund on 27 November 1971 - more than in any other edition of Der Klassiker in Bundesliga history. In fact, there have never been more than a dozen goals in a Bundesliga match. From Bayern's point of view, however, the goals were well apportioned, as the men from Munich won 11-1. Gerd Müller scored no less than four times - the only four-goal haul in the history of this clash. BVB's Lothar Emmerich is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in Der Klassiker, in Dortmund's 6-3 win in September 1967. It was the record champions' heaviest defeat in this fixture.
Coach with the most games: Ottmar Hitzfeld
No coach has been in the dugout in Der Klassiker as often as Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Ottmar Hitzfeld sat in the dugout a record 29 times in Der Klassiker! He was in charge of Bayern for 16 of those games, BVB for 13 and celebrated a total of 12 wins. As Bayern head coach, Jupp Heynckes notched up 20 games against BVB. Dortmund's record coach in Der Klassiker is Jürgen Klopp with 22 games. It's Hansi Flick's fifth outing as head coach in the fixture, Edin Terzic is making his debut.
Most confident penalty-taker: Paul Breitner
Reliable from the spot: Paul Breitner converted three penalties against BVB.
Both clubs have been awarded eleven penalties in this fixture so far (Bundesliga only). Bayern converted eight of them, BVB seven. The most frequent penalty-taker for Bayern was Paul Breitner, who stepped up three times. He hit the back of the net every time.
FCB have scored first more often
No one has opened the scoring as often as Lewandowski (six times) in the encounters between Bayern and Dortmund.
FC Bayern have taken a 1-0 lead 71 times in the 127 clashes against Dortmund to date, while Borussia have scored the first goal of the game 49 times. The Reds have won a total of 53 of these matches, BVB 27. Incidentally, Robert Lewandowski has put his team 1-0 up the most times in Der Klassiker (six times), ahead of Gerd Müller (five times). The Pole achieved this feat five times for Bayern and once for Dortmund.
Longest winning streak: Both teams level
Franz "Bulle" Roth scores against BVB.
With five straight wins each, FC Bayern and BVB are tied in terms of winning streaks. Between April 1968 and February 1970, FC Bayern won five times against the Westphalians, who in turn enjoyed their five-game run between 2010 and 2012. They go into Saturday's clash against Bayern on a four-game winning streak.
Especially in the Bundesliga, this fixture has often made history, We take a look back at some memorable moments 👇
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