Bayern Munich have stumbled in three of their last six Bundesliga outings, while Borussia Dortmund have shown impressive resilience on the road, avoiding defeat in 12 out of 13 Bundesliga away matches, including a noteworthy performance at Leverkusen. With Manuel Neuer sidelined and doubts over Harry Kane’s ability to play the full 90 minutes, Bayern finds themselves in a potentially precarious position ahead of the latest installment of Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena.
Dortmund arrives in Munich with perhaps their best opportunity in recent years to topple the Bundesliga giants. Bayern’s injury woes, including the absences of Neuer and Kingsley Coman, along with concerns over the match fitness of Kane and Aleksandar Pavlovic, could level the playing field. Thomas Tuchel’s preference for Eric Dier alongside Matthijs de Ligt in central defence could be seen as a vulnerability, given their lack of speed against Dortmund’s fast attackers.
However, Bayern’s historical dominance in this rivalry — securing victory in 10 of the last 11 encounters — cannot be overlooked. This psychological advantage remains a significant factor.
The expectation for a high-scoring affair is well-founded, with recent meetings between these two powerhouses yielding an abundance of goals. An average of almost five goals per game across the last seven matchups underscores the attacking potency of both teams. This has set the scene for a potentially thrilling contest, with the likelihood of over 2.5 and 3.5 goals being scored.
The presence of Bayern’s top scorer, who has netted 31 goals this season, will be pivotal. His participation could decisively tip the scales in favour of the hosts. Nonetheless, Dortmund’s proficiency in counter-attacks, coupled with Bayern’s defensive vulnerabilities and Neuer’s absence, suggests that this Der Klassiker could be an open, evenly matched contest.
Betting Tips – Dortmund to win 4/1
