Bayern Munich face Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening in what could be their biggest game of the rest of the Bundesliga season.
Match Overview
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich head into this tie after the international break with a point to prove. They will hope to make it clear that they are still a level above the rest of the teams in the Bundesliga despite seeming to have lost their grip on the Meisterschale this campaign.
Bayern Munich won their last league tie convincingly against Darmstadt and have won their last two outings in Germany's top flight, even though these two games have been against two of the bottom three in the Bundesliga.
This tie is only the second time in the last fifteen years that both of the sides have played each other in the Rückrunde without either team being top of the Bundesliga.
Contrasting this, this is the first year since 2021 that both sides have been in the quarter-finals of the Champions League simultaneously.
Finally, Bayern Munich's Harry Kane has seven goals in five appearances for both Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur against Borussia Dortmund in all competitions, proving BVB is a team he likes to face.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have multiple players that were able to get some rest over the international break, with players like Mats Hummels, Niklas Süle, Emre Can and Julian Brandt all not being called up for the Germany national team.
History is not in Dortmund's favour, as BVB have not won in their last eleven games against Bayern Munich in all competitions, with their sole draw coming last season thanks to an Anthony Modeste late equaliser.
Despite this, Borussia Dortmund are the form team of 2024 and are only behind Bayer 04 in terms of points accrued this calendar year (twenty-three points).
Both teams have away legs to begin the next stage of the Champions League, with Dortmund travelling to Madrid and Bayern Munich travelling to London to face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side.
Finally, Borussia Dortmund have been consistent in scoring goals, as Edin Terzić's side have only failed to score once in the Bundesliga this season and this was against Heidenheim during matchday 20 in February.
Team News
Bayern Munich
Harry Kane picked up an injury before the international break and had to return to Munich, as he was unable to play for England. He will remain a slight doubt ahead of the weekend's game but is expected to start
Sacha Boey is still out with a muscular injury and both Tarek Buchmann and Bouna Sarr will be unavailable for Der Klassiker. Manuel Neuer will most likely miss the game on Saturday and both Kingsley Coman and Noussair Mazraoui both being doubts as they have come back from injuries.
Lastly, Raphaël Guerreiro is also a doubt due to a muscular injury.
Borussia Dortmund
Sébastien Haller is a doubt with an ankle injury and Ramy Bensebaini is also doubtful with knee issues. Both Samuel Bamba and Marcel Sabitzer are however unavailable with a muscular injury and a red card suspension respectively. Alexander Meyer also comes in for Gregor Kobel who has picked up yet another injury and thus missed Wednesday's training.
Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich:
Ulreich; Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Davies; Pavlović, Goretzka; Sané, Müller (c), Musiala; Kane
Borussia Dortmund:
Meyer; Ryerson, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Özcan, Can (c); Malen, Brandt, Sancho; Füllkrug
Match Result
'10 Karim Adeyemi ⚽️
'83 Julian Ryerson ⚽️