A Der Klassiker for ages as Bayern Munich takes on leaders Borussia Dortmund separated just by a point for a potential title-deciding clash in the Bundesliga.
BAY vs DOR Match Details
Date: Saturday, 1 April 2023
Time: 18:30 (CET) / 22:00 (IST)
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
BAY vs DOR Match Preview
Not often Bayern Munich have worked into a Der Klassiker in the Bundesliga not sitting at the top of the chart at least in the last 10 years of their undisputed dominance in the league. However, this time their eternal rivals Borussia Dortmund have threatened that kingship causing the Bavarians to remove their coach Julian Nagelsmann ahead of the top-of-the-table clash this weekend. Performances fluctuated under the German but Bayern remained in the proximity of retaining the title and was unscratched in the Champions League too in reaching the quarterfinals. But the 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen prior to the international break made the board think again. They hardly could escape the temptation of swooping Thomas Tuchel when he is available. Hence, the ex-Chelsea manager got another top job to organize the team and guide them to a possible treble with the DFB Pokal also up for grabs. Tuchel’s first job will be to face his former employees whom he last enjoyed playing football in the Bundesliga. His present side are in the second spot with 52 points trailing by one. A win in this mammoth encounter will surely set the stage for Bayern to strengthen their stronghold of the league title while a loss may not be recovered. Although their eight games winning record at Munich in this fixture should help them on their way.
Borussia Dortmund will not have such an opportunity again or at least for the season to dethrone their rivals in claiming the first Bundesliga title since 2012. There are still nine games to go and any result in the Der Klassiker may not decide the winners at the end although victory on Saturday will open a four points lead at the top for the Black and Yellows. Edin Terzic’s side are aiming for that after all they have been the most consistent side this year, going winless only twice in 13 games in all competitions. They only dropped points in the Revierderby against Schalke in the league keeping aside their Champions League elimination to Chelsea. The present Dortmund team showed they are different from the sides of the past that wilted under pressure at the crucial stages and ultimately surrendered title credentials entirely for Bayern to easily walk to the title season after season. The 6-1 thrashing of FC Koln prior to the international break which saw captain Marco Reus surpassing Michael Zorc as the club's all-time Bundesliga top scorer reflected their seriousness for the target this time around. However, they have to win the Der Klassiker to really prove themselves and it will extend their 10-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga.
Recent Form (all competitions)
BAY: LWWWW
DOR: WDLWW
Recent Form (Bundesliga)
BAY: LWWLW
DOR: WDWWW
BAY vs DOR Team News
The trio of Manuel Neuer, Lucas Hernández and Mathys Tel are out of contention while Jamal Musiala is a doubt for Saturday’s featured game carrying a slight hamstring issue. Thomas Tuchel is likely to set his side in a 3-4-2-1 formation in his first game in charge as Bayern boss. Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt will form the back-three with Joao Cancelo and Alphonso Davies as the wing-backs. Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane will play as floating forwards behind the striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting.
For Borussia Dortmund, right-back Thomas Meunier and winger Giovanni Reyna but Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi will return after sustaining injuries before the international break. Raphael Guerreiro has slotted perfectly in his new midfield role scoring twice and assisting two more in his last two Bundesliga games. The Portuguese should continue in that position against Bayern this weekend. Emre Can has returned from suspension and will slot back into the starting lineup.
BAY vs DOR Head to head
BAY won: 52
Drawn: 30
DOR won: 25
(In the Bundesliga)
BAY vs DOR Predicted Lineups
BAY: Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, De Ligt; Joao Cancelo, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Alphonso Davies; Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller; Choupo-Moting
DOR: Gregor Kobel; Marius Wolf, Nicolas Sule, Nico Schlotterbeck, Julian Ryerson; Jude Bellingham, Emre Can, Guerreiro; Brandt, Haller, Reus
BAY vs DOR Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Sommer (7)
DEF: Cancelo (8.5), Upamecano (8), Guerreiro (8.5), Davies (7.5)
MID: Reus (8.5), Kimmich (8.5), Bellingham (8)
FW: Muller (8.5), Haller (8.5), Choupo-Moting (8.5)
Vice-captain: Joao Cancelo
Captain: Joshua Kimmich
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
