Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich: Der Klassiker team news and preview
By Tushar Bahl
The two biggest clubs in Germany will collide in the Bundesliga this weekend as Borussia Dortmund go up against Bayern Munich.
Borussia Dortmund will continue their bid to knock Bayern Munich off their perch this weekend when the two sides battle it out in the latest edition of Der Klassiker. The Black and Yellows haven’t beaten their arch-rivals since the DFL-Supercup final in 2019, but they will fancy their chances of getting the three points this weekend.
Edin Terzic’s side have tasted just one defeat in the Bundesliga in 2023, and that came against Bayern Munich in April. Borussia Dortmund are currently on a 26-game unbeaten run at the Westfalenstadion, their longest stretch without a home defeat in 21 years.
Emre Can and Marius Wolf are BVB’s two injury doubts ahead of Saturday’s game. Mats Hummels and Marcel Sabitzer are expected to return to the starting XI against their former club.
Bayern Munich are reeling heading into Der Klassiker, having suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to third division side FC Saarbrücken on Wednesday. Although they did claim an impressive 8-0 win over Darmstadt in the Bundesliga last weekend.
Former BVB head coach Thomas Tuchel will have to make do without the suspended Joshua Kimmich and the injured Matthijs de Ligt on Saturday. Noussair Mazraoui is also a doubt, having missed the DFB-Pokal tie due to illness. Dayot Upamecano has missed Bayern’s last four games due to a hamstring injury, but they will hope to have him back in the squad on Saturday.
Raphael Guerreiro has also recovered from his injury and is set for a reunion with his former club this weekend. Leon Goretzka could join Konrad Laimer in midfield, with Harry Kane set to start up front.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich: Predicted Starting XIs
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Özcan, Sabitzer, Brandt – Malen, Reus, Füllkrug
Bayern Munich: Neuer – Mazraoui, Upamecano, Kim, Davies – Laimer, Goretzka – Coman, Musiala, Sané – Kane