After a quick international break, club football resumes this weekend. The most talked about game of matchday 7 in the Bundesliga is between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Bayern have enjoyed a 100% winning start to the campaign. They have excelled in all competitions, playing breathtaking football. It is fair to say that they are currently the best-performing team in Europe’s top five leagues. Die Roten are yet to drop a point in the Bundesliga.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are also enjoying a fine start to the campaign. After the first couple of months, it does look like Niko Kovac’s men are going to go toe to toe with Bayern for the Bundesliga title. They have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, but have suffered two draws in six league games.
Dortmund needs a win on Saturday to come closer to Die Roten in the points table. They are four points behind the defending champions. Meanwhile, a win for Bayern will open up a gap of seven points over their arch-rivals.
Team News
Bayern Munich were fortunate not to lose any players to injury during the international break. Vincent Kompany will have a strong group of players to pick from for Der Klassiker.
Jamal Musiala, Hiroki Ito, and Alphonso Davies remain on the mend as they are progressing well in their recoveries from serious injuries. Raphael Guerreiro missed training sessions with the main group this week, so he is a doubt for the clash against his former club. Josip Stanisic will also miss the game on Saturday as he continues to recover from a muscle injury he suffered against Chelsea in September.
Predicted Starting XI
With Jonas Urbig returning to fitness, Bayern will have all their senior goalkeepers available against Dortmund. There is no debate about the first-choice goalkeeper as of now since Manuel Neuer is enjoying a fine start to the season. The veteran shot-stopper will look to keep his third consecutive clean sheet in the Bundesliga.
Vincent Kompany will go with the first-choice center-back partnership of Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah against Dortmund. The two center-backs have quickly forged a good understanding in the heart of the defense. With all left-back options injured, Kompany will have to continue with Konrad Laimer on the left side of the back four. Sacha Boey will play in the right-back position.
Aleksandar Pavlovic has looked back to his best in the last few weeks. The young German midfielder is currently ahead of Leon Goretzka in the pecking order. Pavlovic is the favourite to start alongside Joshua Kimmich in the center of the park.
Kompany’s easiest job right now is to make selections in the attack. It is a straightforward decision due to the good form of several players. Michael Olise and Luis Diaz will play on the flanks, while Harry Kane will lead the attack. Serge Gnabry will play behind Kane in the number ten role.
Bayern Munich Starting XI- Neuer; Laimer,Upamecano, Tah, Boey; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Diaz, Gnabry, Olise; Kane
Score Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
Bayern are currently the in-form team in Europe, winning all of their competitive games this season. They have dominated games and given no breathing space to the opposition. Meanwhile, Dortmund have also enjoyed a decent start to the season, but it will take a Herculean effort to get a positive result on Saturday.