This Bayern vs Dortmund clash could flip the Bundesliga script | OneFootball

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund meet up at the Allianz Arena on Saturday during Matchday 29 of the Bundesliga, but carrying with it more than the standings. Bayern have more tradition involved in playing BVB away at the Allianz, in addition to contrasting, quite frankly, much greater stakes in objective: their drive to still remain firmly on top, whereas Borussia seek to maintain alive for themselves any possible chance in taking part next term in Europe. With six rounds remaining, every point is the value of a decision.

And if there is one thing that this meeting always guarantees, it is goals. In the last ten meetings between the two sides, eight of them were at least three-goal ties. In the last nine meetings, 36 goals were netted, a four-per-match rate.

Bayern's dominance meets its own defeats

FC Bayern München v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg | Image Photo Agency/GettyImages

Sitting on top of the league with 68 points, six ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern comes into Der Klassiker with momentum in the Bundesliga but still hurting from a 2–1 loss to Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Coach Vincent Kompany didn't beat around the bush: "Results aren't always fair. The result is what it is. It's halftime. We still believe we have a chance in Milan."

And all the attention is now on direct encounter with Dortmund, and Kompany is aware of its unique importance: "Now we play against Dortmund, and that has a unique importance."

The Bayern challenge is dealing with substantial absences. Without Buchmann, Musiala, Coman, Manuel Neuer, Upamecano, and Alphonso Davies, the team loses a piece of its cornerstone in key roles. That may affect the team's attacking flow, but heavy artillery is still available to depend on, including top scorer Harry Kane, who has already registered 58 goals this term.

Dortmund under pressure, looking for response

FC Barcelona v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg | David Ramos/GettyImages

On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund arrives under pressure. Trailing in eighth place with 41 points, Niko Kovac's side is five points behind the Champions League spots. The 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League revealed the defense weaknesses of the team, with Dortmund already conceding 43 goals in the Bundesliga, eighth worst in the league.

Kovac didn't hide the impact of the loss: "Well, defeats always hurt, the big ones more so. But I saw some good things go on, and now it's my job to pass those along to my players." Discussing playing Bayern, he added: "They're at a level with Barcelona. In general, in the next two games, we have to position ourselves way better defensively."

Defender Nico Schlotterbeck is out due to a meniscus injury, and his absence only adds to an already fragile defense. Kovac knows that his team will have to play as a unit, with fire from start to finish: "Everybody knows Bayern Munich is the team with the most possession in the Bundesliga. That means we have to be ready to run a lot and do a lot of sprints in order to cut passes off. We have to make the most out of the moments when we have the ball."

Müller and the quiet goodbye

Thomas Müller will be seen for the last time in Der Klassiker on Saturday. If he comes onto the pitch, it will be his 29th derby appearance, surpassing Mats Hummels, who has played both jerseys. The only difference being that Müller, the symbol of a dominant generation, is calling it quits after this season.

His possible last appearance in what is such a mythic match-up is a reminder that all things must go, even for the most established idols of a club. And that makes the game particularly thick with what it signifies for Bayern's recent past.

FC Bayern München v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg | Stefan Matzke - sampics/GettyImages

Goal scorers in the spotlight

This game also features two forwards in top-class individual form: Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy. They've contributed a combined 117 goals between them this season, Kane with 58 and Guirassy with 59. Both are expected to find their way into the game that tends to favor attacking players.

The high mean of goals scored in this match makes it almost guaranteed that they'll appear on the score sheet. And with global media coverage of Der Klassiker, this is a match that can propel a striker's season another level.