The eyes of the footballing world will be on Bayern as they take on Borussia Dortmund in the first Klassiker of the season on Saturday (kick-off at 6.30pm CET, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 12 Bundesliga encounter in our preview.
Check out the best photos from final training on Friday:
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Bayern have been in superb form of late, winning their last seven games in all competitions. Defensive solidity has been one of the defining features of that run, having kept clean sheets in all seven fixtures, while Manuel Neuer hasn’t conceded a goal for 664 minutes. “It feels really good right now. We have good energy, everyone’s pulling in the same direction. We can feel that within and are embodying that outward,” said sporting director Christoph Freund of the current feeling in Munich.
Head coach Vincent Kompany also expressed his pleasure at his team’s form when he spoke at Friday’s pre-match press conference, while also looking ahead to a crucial run of fixtures. “Recent results are good, we’ve earned that, but it’s in the past. Now it’s about maintaining this level and continuing to improve,” the Belgian stated. The next big test of that comes on Saturday in an emotionally charged encounter in Dortmund. “We know what can come from the stands there. But we can go there with confidence, want to keep a clean sheet and win again,” added board member for sport Max Eberl.
Confidence is certainly something Bayern have, given the recent run of results that has seen them build up a six-point advantage over Eintracht Frankfurt at the top of the Bundesliga. Kompany can also sense the excitement going into his first Dortmund encounter as Bayern boss: “It’s Der Klassiker. I like it when games like this get a special build-up. Everyone’s excited for the match.”
Read up on the key statements from the pre-match press conference:
Opponent: Borussia Dortmund
Borussia also come into Der Klassiker with some momentum, following last weekend’s 4-0 league win at home to Freiburg with a 3-0 victory away at Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. The latter result ended a run of six straight away defeats for BVB across all competitions. It’s that poor form on the road that has contributed to last season’s Champions League finalists only sitting fifth in the Bundesliga after 11 rounds of fixtures.
Things are much different at home, though, with BVB winning all eight matches at their Signal Iduna Park so far. “Our demand is to win at home. There’s no reason not to be confident. We know what sort of energy we have in our stadium,” said Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin. His Bayern counterpart is also aware of the oppositions’ strengths: “When they’re playing well, they press high. They’re also dangerous on the counter, have a lot of pace out wide and players with the technical ability to play the final pass.”
Read up on the pre-match stats for Der Klassiker
Team news
Bayern are still without Joao Palhinha (muscular), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal) and Josip Stanisic (knee) in Dortmund. Aleksander Pavlovic is also not yet available following his broken collarbone, with Kompany stating: “If he has a good week of training, then maybe he’ll be ready for Heidenheim.”
Borussia are missing captain Emre Can (suspended), Karim Adeyemi (muscular) and Filippo Mane (calf). There’s also doubt over the fitness of Julian Brandt following a thigh issue, but Niklas Süle and Kjell Wätjen are set to return.
What the coaches say
These games are usually a spectacle. I’d like it if this game was lively too. It can also get emotional.
Vincent Kompany
It’s the biggest game in Germany. We’re playing at home, know what we have to do to get into space. We feel ready and want to win.
Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund)
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