The German Bundesliga may witness a change of the tides after tonight as Borussia Dortmund entertain leaders Bayern Munich at the Signal Iduna Park in a gripping top of the table clash.
The Yellow Brigade currently sit second in the table with 57 points from 24 games, 5 adrift of leaders Bayern. The gap was trimmed after the holders were stunned 2-1 at home by Mainz in the mid-week, and Dortmund now have a chance to cut the lead to only 2 points should they beat the visitors in today’s game.
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The Bavarians hammered BVB 5-1 in the reverse at Allianz Arena earlier in the season, but chinks have surfaced in their armor recently. Pep Guardiola’s troops appear to be running out of juice in their can, and it’s the best chance for Thomas Tuchel’s side to take something away from the game.
Here’s your guide to the crunch Der Klassiker coming up later today.
Kickoff and Telecast
Date and Time: 4 March 2016 – 11.00 pm (IST)
Live Telecast: Star Sports 1 and 1 HD
Live Stream: Star Sports
Venue: Westfalenstadion, Dortmund.
Team News
Borussia Dortmund: The hosts will be bolstered by the return of showstopper Roman Burki from illness, as will Marco Reus and Lukasz Piszczek, both of whom were rested for the midweek game at Darmstadt. However, defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos remains on the sidelines with a hamstring issue.
Bayern Munich: For Bayern, the likes of Jerome Boateng (groin), Javi Martinez (knee) and Holger Badstuber (ankle) will miss the trip to North-Rhine Westphalia.
Probable line-ups
Borussia Dortmund (4-3-3): Burki; Piszczek, Bender, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Weigl, Kagawa, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Reus.
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Lahm, Kimmich, Alaba, Bernat, Alonso, Thiago; Robben, Muller, Costa, Lewandowski.
Form guide
Borussia Dortmund enter the fray in perfect shape and rich vein. The side have won each of their last 7 games in all competitions and have also dropped points on only one occasion this year – a goal-less stalemate to Hertha Berlin.
Der BVB have successfully climbed out of the dump of last season to reinstate themselves as a genuine challenger for the title, and the game today serves as a golden opportunity for them to truly lay down the gauntlet to their Bavarian rivals.
Last 5 games: W-W-W-W-W (Last result: Darmstadt 0-2 Borussia Dortmund)
It seems that a congested fixture list is finally catching up with Bayern. The defending German champions have begun to stutter of late, and teams have started to take advantage of it.
Die Roten were pegged back by a spirited Juventus in the Champions League .last week when they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after going 2-0 up within 50 minutes. And now, they were left ashen-faced after a 2-1 loss to Mainz at home, their first defeat at the Allianz Arena this season.
Whether it’s the injuries or loss of form of some pivotal players that’s plaguing them, regardless, Bayern have to come to Dortmund at the peak of their powers if they were to maintain the sizeable lead that they currently hold.
Last 5 games: W-W-D-W-L (Last result: Bayern Munich 1-2 Mainz 05)
Key stats and facts
- Bayern Munich have won 4 of the last 5 Klassikers.
- Bayern Munich have won each of their last 2 visits to Signal Iduna Park in the league.
- This will be the 109th time the sides meet in an official game.
- Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have shared 18 of the last 22 Bundesliga titles between them.
- Borussia Dortmund have lost not in the league since December – a 2-1 defeat at Koln.
Key battle
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs Robert Lewandowski
Although the former team-mates do not directly go head-to-head, but their prowess in front of the goal will go some way in deciding which way the game will head. Both the strikers have been prolific for the sides, scoring goals left, right and centre. If Lewandowski leads the Bundesliga charts with 23 strikes right now, Aubameyang closely competes for the Golden boot with 20 goals in second.
Both the forwards will be shouldering the major scoring burden for their respective sides, and the one that outscores the other in this battle for goals may just decide the tie.
Prediction
It's now or never Borussia Dortmund, who have the cake in their hands and now only need to ice it with a victory here. Bayern Munich are wounded, and it’s time for them to rub some more salt on it.
Expect the hosts to go Hammer and Tongs in search of all 3 points, and brilliantly, come away successful.
Predicted score: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Bayern Munich
Betting Odds (bet365)
Borussia Dortmund – 101/50
Draw – 49/20
Bayern Munich – 32/25
