For the second time in a month, Bayern Munich will play host to bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal semi-final on Wednesday night. Last month saw Munich run out comprehensive 4-1 winners to all but secure a fifth Bundesliga title for the Bavarian giants.
Two goals from Robert Lewandowski against his former club and an Arjen Robben double ensured Carlo Ancelotti's side overcame their long-term rivals with relative ease. Raphael Guerreiro's wonder-strike was nothing more than a consolation as the gulf-in-class was ever present at the Allianz Arena.
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Despite suffering from a humiliating Champions League quarter-final exit to Real Madrid, Bayern will go into the game desperate for success and keen to replicate their success of last season.
Bayern and Dortmund tend to provide a goal-feast for the watching supporters, and here's five reason's why the Bavarian's will overcome Thomas Tuchel's Dortmund side.
#1 The Robert Lewandowski factor
During their league affair earlier this month, much was made of Robert Lewandowski's form heading into the contest. The Polish international was behind Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the goalscoring charts before the contest, but his two goals on the day ensured he leapfrogged the Gabon forward to 26 goals in the domestic season.
Unfortunately for the player, he suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out of action for ten days - including their loss to Real Madrid in the quarter-final first leg.
Lewandowski also has a prolific record against his former club where he has notched up six goals in eight games since making the controversial move to Munich in July 2014. Thomas Tuchel's defensive worries will continue as Marc Bartra is still ruled out after being injured in the terror attack on the team bus before their defeat to AS Monaco.
The stage is indeed set for Lewandowski to be the decisive factor between the two clubs once again.
#2 History suggests a Bayern Munich victory
Since November 2011, the two clubs have met on eleven different occasions at Munich's Allianz Arena with Dortmund claiming victory on just one occasion at the home of their bitter rivals.
During that time, Munich have been managed by Jupp Heynckes, Pep Guardiola, and most recently, Carlo Ancelotti. Between all three managers, Munich have suffered defeat just once - in October 2014 when Dortmund ran out 0-3 winners in the Bavarian's own backyard.
Those games have seen Munich score fifteen goals - nine in the last two alone - clearly showcasing their attacking threat is far superior to that of their semi-final counterparts this Thursday. Ancelotti will take confidence in the fact the club have a significantly strong history over Tuchel's side and must guarantee that winning run continues to ensure his inaugural season in Germany is witnessed as a success story, rather than a failure.
#3 Anything less than the double will be considered a failure
Winning in Munich is a necessity, however, when the club has experienced such heights like over the past half-decade, Carlo Ancelotti must secure a domestic double as a minimum to ensure the Munich supporters are content with their campaign.
Former manager Pep Guardiola won the double twice in his three-year spell as manager of Bayern. Real Madrid knocked Bayern Munich out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage for the first time since 2011, so a place in the cup final is a necessity for Ancelotti.
The Bundesliga title is all but wrapped up with the club needing just seven points to secure a fifth successive German league title. Ancelotti will be required to start his strongest team against Thomas Tuchel's side, so no slip-ups occur against the team considered their bitter rivals.
#4 Borussia Dortmund’s form
You could argue that Thomas Tuchel's side are heading into a Der Klassiker with the lowest confidence in a long time. The team have suffered some humiliating defeats in recent weeks to Bayern Munich, and AS Monaco on two occasions during their quarter-final exit at the hands of the Ligue 1 outfit.
Unfortunately for Dortmund, they bore the brunt of an unprovoked terrorist attack prior to their first-leg defeat at the hands of Leonardo Jardim's side. During the incident, star defender Marc Bartra was injured when exploding glass caused a laceration to his forearm which required him to have surgery.
This month alone has witnessed Tuchel come under intense pressure from many sections of the 'Yellow Wall.' Three defeats in a month are deemed not good enough, and with a lack of leaders within the squad, it's difficult to see Dortmund having the credentials to overcome Ancelotti's side.
#5 Most difficult challenge remaining for Bayern Munich
For Bayern Munich, the most difficult challenge that remains for them this season is to overcome Borussia Dortmund this Wednesday.
For many Bayern supporters, they wouldn't be criticised for thinking they've already wrapped up the domestic title as all their title rivals struggle to gather form ahead of the decisive run in. With a world-class squad at the disposal of Carlo Ancelotti, it's all but certain that they will secure the title and make it a historic fifth Bundesliga crown in a row.
That just leaves the DFB Pokal for them to capture, so Ancelotti is likely to prioritise their weekly schedule upon the game with Dortmund, who are struggling to secure Champions League football for the club next season.
One of the two teams has their season targets almost complete, while the other continues to struggle to meet those demands set in preseason. For this reason, Munich will overcome the Dortmund outfit.
