Bayern Munich will take on Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 23rd April. The final Der Klassiker of the season could potentially decide the title winners as Bayern and Dortmund are the top two sides in Bundesliga this season. If Bayern end up having the last laugh after 90 minutes on Sunday, they will walk away with their 10th successive league title
Byron Munich secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at relegation-threatened Arminia Bielefeld the previous weekend. That victory has put them on the brink of yet another domestic success, and Bayern will be gunning for their 10th consecutive league title on Saturday against Borussia Dortmund.
An own goal from Jacob Laursen with just 10 minutes on the clock set the tempo as the Bavarians cruise to a comfortable win thanks to goals from Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala at the end of each half against the Arminia who are dangerously close to being relegated.
The three points against Armenia allowed Bayern Munich to open up a nine-point gap at the top of the Bundesliga table. This has presented them with the ideal opportunity to seal their title crown when they take on their arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund in second place at home.
Julian Nagelsmann’s man side have been far from their best in the most recent stretches of the season. They were extremely disappointing in the Champions League where they suffered a shock exit at the hands of Villarreal in the quarter-final. Bayern also had to struggle and fumble their way home against an Augsburg side, who haven’t been impressive this season. However, with all of that being said, Bayern Munich have an impeccable ability to raise their game against Borussia Dortmund.
Band Munich haven’t lost to Borussia Dortmund in the last three years and it has been almost five years since they were last beaten on home soil by the Black and Yellow side. They have recorded some outstanding wins against the title challengers at the Allianz Arena during this period of dominance.
However, the Bavarians are not one to rest on their laurels and complacency is not likely to play an issue for the hosts. With only a few matches remaining this campaign, Nagelsmann will be wanting the best from his players to seal their domestic success in stunning style. There’s no better way to end the domestic season than being crowned champions in front of their own fans at home against their arch-rivals in Germany’s premier fixture.
Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, will have the fact that they have lost their last 7 matches against Bayern Munich playing on their minds as they make the trip to Munich. Their last league title arrived 10 years ago under Jurgen Klopp and Bayern Munich have won on every occasion since then. Although they are unlikely to force their hand in the title equation, even with a victory at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, Dortmund will be hoping to restore some pride and confidence in Der Klassiker rivalry.
Recent visits to the Allianz Arena have ended in 5-0 and 6-0 defeats for the Black and Yellow side. Dortmund have also conceded at least thrice against the league leaders in their last five meetings across all competitions. Those lapses in defence, as well as inconsistent form, are exactly what have hampered Dortmund chances of winning another Bundesliga title over the last few years.
That has also been the case for Dortmund this season as they have failed to capitalize on the numerous slip-ups from the runaway league leaders Bayern Munich this season. Marco Rose will be hoping that his side shows more ruthlessness at the Allianz Arena and steps up their game against the favourites.
They will not be short on confidence heading into this classic fixture. Erling Haaland, whose next club is the cause of much speculation this summer, scored a brace as Borussia Dortmund stormed their way to a 6-1 hammering against Wolfsburg at the Signal Iduna Park last weekend in Bundesliga.
17-year-old Tom Rathe scored the opening goal of the night on his debut. The home side soon found themselves 5-0 up in a breathless display of attacking football in the first half. Besides Haaland, Axel Witsel, Manel Akanji, and Emre Can also got on the scoresheet.
While finding the back of the net hasn’t exactly been a problem for Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich in the last few matches, it is their weak defensive line which is prone to errors that has been the biggest source of headaches. The likes of Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, and Leroy Sane don’t need second invitations to capitalize on mistakes, and Dortmund will have to be very wary at the back.
If Marco Rose figures out a way to plug the holes in the defence of Borussia Dortmund, they have every hope of frustrating the hosts on Saturday. Dortmund will be aware of the fact that Bayern haven’t been at their best in recent weeks and will be hoping to catch them off-guard with the likes of Haaland, Brandt, and Reus in attack. Although a title race seems too far-fetched for Dortmund at the moment, a win at the Allianz Arena will do wonders in their hopes of a better rebuild next season.
FCB vs DOR, Bundesliga 2021/22
Date: 23rd April, 2022
Time: 10:00 PM IST
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
FORM GUIDE:
Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:
- D-D-W-W-W-W
Bayern Munich form (all competitions):
- W-W-L-W-D-W
Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:
- W-W-D-L-W-W
Borussia Dortmund from (all competitions):
- W-W-D-L-W-W
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Bayern Munich wins: 65
Draws: 34
Borussia Dortmund wins: 33
TEAM NEWS:
Bayern Munich Team News: Kingsley Coman and Lucas Hernandez should return to the Bayern squad after missing out on last weekend’s trip to Arminia Bielefeld. Coman could even make his way straight into the starting XI, which could relegate Marcel Sabitzer to the bench. Meanwhile, Lucas Hernandez is expected to replace 19-year-old Tanguy Nianzou as Julian Nagelsmann might have other ideas about testing his inexperience against formidable opponents in Borussia Dortmund.
It won’t be surprising to see Leroy Sane start on the bench once again. The likes of Corentin Tolisso and Bouna Sarr are expected to miss this edition of Der Klassiker due to hamstring and knee injuries respectively. They will also most probably be joined by Omar Richards, who is set to be out due to illness.
Borussia Dortmund Team News: Borussia Dortmund might be looking to start with veteran midfielder Emre Can at right-back as Thomas Meunier (hamstring injury), Felix Passlack (muscle injury) and Mateu Morey (torn ACL) have all been ruled out.
Senior center-back Mats Hummels has also joined the aforementioned players in the treatment room and Marco Rose appears to be short on options in defence. Dan-Axel Zagadou and Marin Pongracic will be in contention to replace Hummels in the center of the defense. First-choice goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has also been ruled out because of an ankle injury.
Raphael Guerreiro’s return to fitness is expected to be massive news for Borussia Dortmund and he is likely to start the match as well. Nico Schulz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Mahmoud Dahoud, Steffen Tigges, and Marcel Schmelzer are also expected to miss out owing to injury concerns. Donyell Malen and Thorgan Hazard are also doubtful for Saturday’s trip to Munich.
Brandt is expected to start this clash after Giovanni Reyna suffered yet another setback in an injury-ravaged campaign. The American youngster has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Brandt is expected to partner in-form Erling Haaland and veteran forward Marco Reus up front.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Coman; Lewandowski
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Hitz; Pongracic, Akanji, Zagadou; Wolf, Bellingham, Can, Guerreiro; Brandt, Reus; Haaland
Predictions:
A clash of the frontlines of Bayern’s Gnabry-Muller-Coman-Lewandowski and Dortmund’s Haaland-Hazard-Brandt-Reus, a goalfest is expected in Der Klassiker this weekend. As has been the case in recent years, it promises to be a hugely entertaining affair with intense, end-to-end action.
With that being said, it is the side that maintains a more disciplined defence on the night is expected to come out on top. Bayern Munich are the favourites to pick up a win and seal their title victory given their recent historical record against Borussia Dortmund. The visitors are also missing a number of key players which might also play in favour of Nagelsmann’s side.
