Bayern Munich host Borussia Dortmund in the first Klassiker of the Bundesliga season on Saturday, with both teams level on points at the top of the table.
Both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund sit level on points at the summit as they gear up for Saturday’s first Klassiker.
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Before last term’s first Klassiker on Matchday 7, Bayern had already opened a four-point gap over BVB, and their 2-1 win put them seven points ahead. Dortmund improved as the season went on, but by the time the teams had played their final fixture, Bayern were 16 points clear of their closest challengers.
This term, though, only goal difference separates them after seven matchdays, and much of that is down to Dortmund’s solidity. No side has conceded fewer than their four league goals so far this term.
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Under Niko Kovač, the key elements of Dortmund’s backline have emerged. Gregor Kobel, between the sticks, is now one of the team’s elder statesmen and leads by example in character and performance.
He has already kept a league-high five clean sheets, following on from 2025/26’s table-topping 15, and has an extraordinary save rate of 82 percent. And against Bayern, he has something to prove, having failed to win any of his 10 Bundesliga fixtures against the Bavarians.
In front of him, Nico Schlotterbeck has established himself as one of Europe’s most reliable defenders, even after a serious injury derailed his FIFA World Cup campaign with Germany. He, too, is now an important voice in the dressing room, taking on the captain’s armband in Emre Can’s absence, and has embodied Kovač’s style on the pitch.
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Gregor Kobel leads the way with five Bundesliga clean sheets this season. – Bundesliga/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke –> <!–>
He missed the first two games of the season as he finished his recovery, but has since won a team-high 67 percent of his duels, forming a strong connection with Waldemar Anton at the heart of the defence.
Alongside him on the right is Julian Ryerson. After last season’s incredible haul of 15 Bundesliga assists, second only to Bayern’s Michael Olise, he hasn’t been quite as creative and is still waiting to set up his first goal, but he has still delivered a league-high 34 crosses.
From his and Dortmund’s perspective, the issue is the lack of options to get on the end of those deliveries into dangerous areas. Serhou Guirassy remains BVB’s talisman, yet while he has scored four in three UEFA Champions League games, he has found the back of the net just twice in the league.
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Nevertheless, he shares the league’s top‑scorer spot with Maximilian Beier and Felix Nmecha. Dortmund have found the net only 12 times, a tally that sits ninth, while their defence, conceding just six, ranks joint‑second best – a stark contrast that could strain their back line.
Kovač and his crew know stopping Bayern won’t be easy. Leading the attack is Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane, whose four goals this term place him sixth in the scoring chart, underscoring the lofty bar he’s set. In my view, his modest total reveals a hunger for more.
Instead, Olise spearheads Bayern’s offense, as the side has struck 25 Bundesliga goals, including a record 18 at home so far. The Frenchman contributes six goals and three assists this season, plus two and one in the Champions League, and boasts his first top‑10 Ballon d’Or finish.
Watch: Analysis: Harry Kane vs. Serhou Guirassy
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Serge Gnabry, meanwhile, has stepped up when needed in recent weeks, scoring his 100th goal for Bayern in last week’s victory over Freiburg. He is a prime example of Bayern’s strength in depth, which they require to compete on three fronts.
This term, though, that depth has been tested to its limits. Heading into this encounter, questions remain about the availability of Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Manuel Neuer, while Luis Díaz will definitely not be available. Jamal Musiala is also fighting to be involved at the Allianz Arena, and that will likely come soon.
On top of that, head coach Vincent Kompany will not be on the sidelines as he continues his recovery from recent health issues, leaving assistant coach Aaron Danks with big decisions to make.
Watch: Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane arrives back in Munich
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Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane returns to Munich
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As such, Bayern will lean on Dayot Upamecano more than ever. He’s the only Bayern player to start all seven league matches this campaign, making his availability a key asset.
Across the pitch, the French centre‑back has been a colossus, already netting twice and winning 63 % of his duels. Max Eberl called him “world class this season,” and Bayern haven’t lost when he’s on the field – unbeaten in his last 51 league games, just five shy of the record.
All in all, both teams have strengths and weaknesses that leave Matchday 8’s showdown in the balance. We’ll see Saturday night who grabs the early edge in this Meisterschale race. Can your team seize the early lead?
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