Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: 5 greatest matches of all time

It may not always be the biggest game in Germany, but Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich is certainly internationally recognised. Natives like to stay away from the named Der Klassiker but across the globe there’s no doubting this fixture provides the biggest audience.

Traditionally, Der Klassiker is the game where the two biggest teams in Germany go head-to-head but it’s fair to say that Dortmund haven’t been at their best in the past couple of seasons and the challenge from RB Leipzig hasn’t helped.

That said, Dortmund and Bayern always provides football fans with plenty of fireworks, goals and talking points. And so, here are the top five Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich games.

---

#5 Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Bayern Munich (2017)

Robert Lewandowski scored yet again against his former club

Goals from Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski and David Alaba secured three points for Jupp Heynckes' Bayern Munich team in their first Bundesliga meeting of the 2017/18 season.

It was a routine victory for the visitors to the Westfalenstadion that day. However, it wasn’t necessarily the result that provided journalists with the story; it was the return of Heynckes at Bayern following his retirement in 2013 after a treble-winning season.

After a poor start to the campaign under Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern’s hierarchy persuaded Heynckes to coach the Bundesliga champions until the end of the season.

Since his return to Bayern in October, the Bavarian club are yet to lose while their win over Dortmund put the club four points ahead of second-place - all when Dortmund were five points ahead at one point in the season.

#4 Bayern Munich 11-1 Borussia Dortmund (1971)

It’s quite fitting that one of Bayern Munich’s largest wins came against their Germany rivals, Borussia Dortmund. Not only is the scoreline staggering, but it’s the team that Bayern fielded that makes this one impressive.

Leading 4-0 at half-time, players such as Gerd Muller, Paul Breitner, Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoeness played for Bayern in this era - the team that won three Bundesliga and European titles in what was their golden era (1972 to 1976).

Unfortunately for Borussia Dortmund, the 1971/72 season is when they were relegated to the second tier of German football - a sight that was all too familiar for them thanks to their financial worries.

That said, any team that had to face the legendary Gerd ‘Bomber’ Muller was always going to struggle defensively. His small but strong stature made him so difficult to play against while his 4-goal tally against Dortmund on that wet day in November went some way towards his 40-goal haul that season.

There’s no doubting that team is one of the greatest that Bayern have ever had, while it’s hard to guess as to whether any future Bayern team will ever come close to that of the 1970s.

Modern day football is always evolving at a rapid speed and, with ever-changing tactics, it’s hard to determine whether or not any team in Europe will be able to replicate that Bayern side that dominated football in that era.

#3 Bayern Munich 1-3 Borussia Dortmund (2011)

Dortmund's win at the Allianz Arena helped seal the Bundesliga title

Having already won at home against Bayern Munich in the 2010/11 Bundesliga season, their return fixture certainly went some way in helping Borussia Dortmund to their first league title since 2001/02.

A 2-0 win with goals from Lucas Barrios and Nuri Sahin went some way in deciding where the title ended up, while the first-half of the 2010/11 Bundesliga season saw Dortmund lost just twice with that performance being one of their best.

However, their return fixture at the Allianz Arena was perhaps all the more sweeter. A poor start to the second-half of that season meant that Bayern Munich were back in the title race while they were favourites for this Klassiker.

A goal inside the opening 10 minutes from Barrios was cancelled out by Luis Gustavo just minutes later. The determination and fight that Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund showed that evening resulted in a 3-1 win in Munich, something that doesn’t happen all too often.

A first win in Munich for 19 years, Dortmund finished the season 10 points clear of Bayern in third while this victory was a key result in that season’s title race. And for all the football on the pitch, it was Klopp breaking his glasses while celebrating that made the headlines.

#2 Borussia Dortmund 5-2 Bayern Munich (2012)

If there’s way to cap off a league-winning campaign, then it’s to clinch the DFB Pokal against your Bundesliga rivals - and that’s just what Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund achieved.

An easy run to the final in Berlin, BVB faced SV Sandhausen, Dynamo Dresden, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Holstein Kiel and Greuther Furth before facing Jupp Heynckes' Bayern Munich in the final.

Against the powerhouse and a super club with financial muscle, it’s fair to say that Dortmund dominated from start to finish without arguably breaking a sweat.

Japan international Shinji Kagawa had given Borussia Dortmund the lead after two minutes – he’d later move to Manchester United – before Arjen Robben equalised from the spot.

From there on, Dortmund would find themselves 4-1 up before Bayern Munich pulled one back through Franck Ribery. A Mats Hummels penalty and a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski saw the Black and Yellows lift just their third Pokal.

For Dortmund to put five goals past their Bundesliga rivals is huge, even more-so that they possessed players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez.

Following the game, Heynckes bemoaned his teams’ defensive in-capabilities.

"They've had one chance and scored three goals. Our defensive behaviour was catastrophic. If you don't concentrate from the start, you don't deserve to win. We've only got ourselves to blame."

#1 Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich (2013)

Arjen Robben scored the winner in the Champions League final

A night of outstanding football, the 2013 Champions League final certainly provided fans with non-stop entertainment for 90 minutes. It’s arguably one of the greatest Champions League finals since Liverpool’s comeback against AC Milan in 2005.

But what made it so good? Perhaps it’s the fact that Borussia Dortmund were finally able to challenge Bayern Munich on all fronts while their path to the final was nothing short of exceptional.

Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern had beaten Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate while Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund had knocked out Spanish giants Real Madrid. With all roads leading to London's Wembley Stadium the 2013 Champions League final certainly did not disappoint.

While Bayern perhaps deserved the win judging by their performance, it was the manner in which they won it in that broke the hearts of Borussia Dortmund fans.

Ilkay Gundogan had equalised from the spot after Mario Mandzukic gave Bayern the lead after 60 minutes, but it was Arjen Robben’s 89th minute winner that sent the Bavarian side into delirium.

For all their possession, it was Dortmund that created the most chances on that night in 2013. But with Manuel Neuer in goal, it was always going to be difficult for Robert Lewandowski & co.

On another night, it may have been a totally different result but with all three goals coming in the second-half, that may just be one of the best 45 minutes in a Der Klassiker match.