The stage is set for a potentially decisive Der Klassiker in the Bundesliga title race as Borussia Dortmund faces off against Bayern Munich. After a decade of dominance, Bayern’s reign as Bundesliga champions could finally be coming to an end, and Dortmund could take a significant step towards claiming the crown with a victory in this highly-anticipated match. The match will be aired live on Sky Sports for football fans worldwide to enjoy.
Dortmund has undergone an incredible reversal of fortune since the restart after the World Cup, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham at the heart of their team. The team has leaped from sixth to first in the league standings, capping a run of nine wins and a draw in their ten matches so far in 2023 with a 6-1 thumping of Cologne before the international break.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich has been left reeling in second place after caving into a 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, a result and performance which led to Julian Nagelsmann’s dismissal. The sacking came as a surprise to many, given the team’s superb performances in the Champions League this term, but it demonstrates the nervousness in the Bayern hierarchy about the prospect of their 10-season streak of Bundesliga titles coming to an end.
These two results mean Dortmund is top of the standings for the first time since August 2019. “The hunted has become the hunter,” said Bayern forward Thomas Muller this week about his side’s reversal of fortunes.
Dortmund is just nine games away from a first league title since 2011/12, and their next fixture is the most decisive one. Former Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, who led Dortmund to a German Cup success in 2017, is now at the helm of Bayern as Nagelsmann’s replacement. A first Bundesliga crown is now in Tuchel’s sights.
However, Tuchel only began working with the Bayern squad on Monday, given the suddenness of Nagelsmann’s departure. He will not have had contact with many of the club’s players until later in the week due to their international team commitments. This leaves him with little time to imprint his ideas on the group. But his instant impact at Chelsea could be an indication of what his initial approach at Bayern will be.
Tuchel’s arrival at Stamford Bridge mid-season saw Chelsea concede just twice in the next 14 games. It was an astonishing record, and he’s now at a Bayern side in need of similar defensive stability. Bayern has conceded in eight of their ten league games this calendar year, and they cannot afford to provide space for a Dortmund attack that is on fire. The visitors are the top scorers since the World Cup.
The pace of the Dortmund attack will be a particular worry for Tuchel. Karim Adeyemi, who broke the Bundesliga top-speed record earlier this season, sums up their ability to burst forward at a lightning-quick pace. Expect Tuchel to shut down space with a deep defense. A back three could appear more like a back five for long periods of this game for Bayern, as Tuchel aims to maintain control and arrest the team’s slide in defensive performances.
It was a feature of Tuchel’s Chelsea sides. However, unlike in London, where he seemed uncertain of who should link up in the front three, Bayern’s attacking output will ensure plenty of firepower at the other end. The hosts on Saturday are the top scorers in the Bundesliga this season.
Bayern has won the last eight Klassikers played in Munich and will be desperate to reclaim the top spot they feel is theirs. But the question is whether their managerial change will be the gear shift they need to stop the momentum built up by this Dortmund side.
