Borussia Dortmund will look to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga when they host Bayern Munich on Saturday.
A win for Lucien Favre’s men will take Die Borussen seven points clear of Bayern, but defeat would see the German champions close the gap to just one point.
The latest instalment of Der Klassiker will be a massive test for Niko Kovac, who has come in for some criticism in recent weeks, and as a former player, he will know more than anyone just how important this fixture is.
Read on for Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich?
Competition: Bundesliga
Venue: Westfalenstadion
Date: Saturday, 10 November
Kick-off: 5:30 PM BST
Match preview
Borussia Dortmund have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season and life under Lucien Favre looks far more promising than under his predecessor Peter Stoger.
The Ruhr district giants are currently unbeaten after 10 matches, winning seven and drawing three, as well as boasting a plus 20 goal difference, having netted 30 – the highest in the division – and conceded just 10.
Those wins include the 7-0 mauling of Nurnberg as well as 4-1 and 4-2 victories against RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, with the former result looking all the more impressive when considering Leipzig have conceded the fewest number of goals in the division.
Dortmund lost this rivalry 3-1 and 6-0 last term as Bayern cantered to the Bundesliga Meisterschale, but Favre will be looking to make amends this time around when his side welcome the perennial German champions to the Westfalenstadion.
Niko Kovac, meanwhile, has not hit the ground running in Munich with his side currently third in the league, having won six, drawn twice and lost twice; at this stage last season, the club had lost just the once.
More worryingly for Kovac is his side’s lack of goals, with the Bavarians netting just 18 this campaign, fewer than five clubs in the top half of the table, and 12 less than their opponents this weekend.
A win would go a long way to alleviating the current frustrations at the Allianz Arena having played out a tame 1-1 draw against Freiburg during their last encounter.
Where can I watch live?
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich can be viewed by UK residents on BT Sport 2, channel 414 on Sky and channel 532 for Virgin Media users. BT Sport subscribers can also watch the game online at sport.bt.com and via their BT Sport app.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV.
Can Jadon Sancho step up in Der Klassiker?
The rise of Jadon Sancho has been as impressive as it has been rapid, and under the tutelage of Favre, the teenage talent has been going from strength-to-strength this season, but can he make the difference when these two German giants collide this weekend? Last season, a brief 10-minute cameo was all he could muster in this great footballing rivalry, but given his scintillating form this term – scoring five and assisting on seven occasions – Sancho could yet leave a lasting impression.
Can Borussia Dortmund win the Bundesliga?
Bayern Munich have won the previous six Bundesliga titles, but that was not looking the case last season under Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked and replaced by club legend Jupp Heynckes, which ultimately led to a 27th title. This season, the Bavarians face a similar predicament under Kovac, but Dortmund pose more of a threat than under Peter Bosz last season and having added serious midfield firepower in Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney in the summer, Favre’s side look capable of thwarting Bayern’s Bundesliga stranglehold.
Will this clash determine Kovac’s fate?
Bayern have stuttered this season and look very tentative at present, but they still possess world-class talent in their ranks and have produced some promising performances, notably the 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach. However, that has not prevented some of Bayern’s former players criticising the current boss. Lothar Matthaus has already called this a season-defining match, and Kovac will know that this will be his biggest test yet.
Head-to-head
Two of Europe’s greatest footballing aristocrats will clash this weekend for a staggering 113th time, and there have been some extraordinary results over the years.
Ultimately, but not unsurprisingly, Bayern hold the upper hand over their Der Klassiker rivals, winning 54 times during their 112 encounters, while Dortmund have managed just 29 wins.
Both sides have also played out 29 draws, with the last coming in 2016 – a 0-0 stalemate in the Bundesliga – while Bayern have won the previous three meetings, and have not lost in the league since a 1-0 defeat in 2016.
Matches played: 112 Bayern Munich wins: 54 Borussia Dortmund wins: 29 Draws: 29
Team news
Niko Kovac knows this is his biggest test this season and will welcome the return of Franck Ribery, who has played a fleeting part in the club’s previous three fixtures, though the Frenchman may play a more prominent role this weekend.
Mats Hummels was a doubt during the midweek clash against AEK Athens but he could make a return to face his former club, while Thiago Alcantara, Corentin Tolisso and Kingsley Coman are all out through injury.
Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, may tinker with their starting XI following defeat against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Raphael Guerreiro may be reinstated into the first-team fold, while Jacob Bruun Larsen may also get the nod for this mouthwatering clash.
Predicted Borussia Dortmund XI: Burki; Piszczek, Toprak, Akanji, Hakimi; Pulisic, Delaney, Reus, Witsel, Sancho; Alcacer.
Predicted Bayern Munich XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Sule, Boateng, Alaba; Robben, Kimmich, Goretzka, Muller, Ribery; Lewandowski.
Squawka Prediction
Borussia Dortmund have looked irresistible this season under Favre, while Bayern have looked rather stagnant, but there have been signs that Kovac can yet turn the club’s fortunes around, while Dortmund also offered very little in terms of a goalscoring threat against Atleti midweek. We predict a scoreline of 2-2.
Predictions & Betting Tips
Get the BetBull sign-up offer HERE – Ts&Cs apply. +18 only. BeGambleAware.org
1. Score draw @ 3/1
This fixture tends to offer plenty of goals and Saturday’s encounter should be no exception; Borussia Dortmund have already netted 30 Bundesliga goals this season, while Bayern Munich still possess significant firepower in the final third with the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller at the disposal of Kovac.
Given the current form of both sides, a draw would be a likely outcome; Dortmund have been insatiable this season but looked somewhat flat against Atleti in midweek, while Bayern have not started the season with their usual intensity, but will still pose an astronomical threat this weekend.
Key Stat: Borussia Dortmund have won this fixture the same number of times they have drawn it (29).
Tip: Both sides to score and draw the match @ 3/1 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (07/11/2018, 15:51)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
2. Total goals 4 or 6 @ 11/8
As predicted, this match should contain a lot of goals, given both the prowess of Dortmund and the quality of Bayern, and if last season’s results are anything to go by, then this should prove to be another high-scoring contest.
Favre has released the shackles from his attacking players, giving the likes of Paco Alcacer and Marco Reus room to flourish in the final third, while even the full-backs, notably Achraf Hakimi, are given license to surge forward.
Key Stat: Borussia Dortmund have scored the highest number of goals in the Bundesliga this season.
Tip: The total numbers of goals in this match will be either four or six @ 11/8 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (07/11/2018, 15:51)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3. Correct score 2-2 @ 9.5/1
Always a difficult one to call, but given how crucial this fixture is for both managers, Favre in keeping his title hopes alive, and Kovac in trying to keep within touching distance of Bayern’s Der Klassiker rivals, both managers may take a more cautious approach.
That should not prevent the goals from flooding in, however, as these two sides love to attack and both have an embarrassment of attacking riches at their disposal. Expect a mouthwatering clash, but also expect a deadlock between these two fiercely competitive sides.
Key Stat: Bayern Munich have not kept a clean sheet in their previous three league matches.
Tip: Correct score 2-2 @ 9.5/1 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (07/11/2018, 15:51)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
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