Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: Bundesliga Matchday 27 Preview
Following the international break, Bayern Munich are back in Bundesliga action on Saturday as they welcome arch-rivals Dortmund to the Allianz Arena. Both sides will feel they have underperformed this season in the Bundesliga. They will look at this edition of the Der Klassiker as an opportunity to salvage something out of the remaining league campaign.
Thomas Tuchel will certainly be looking for a similar performance from his side on Saturday that he saw the last time he faced his former club. Bayern Munich went to Signal Iduna Park in November to clinch a convincing 4-0 victory, courtesy of a hattrick from Harry Kane. With Bayern still holding out a small hope that Bayer Leverkusen could slip up, a win on Saturday would keep the small chance of a Bundesliga title alive. With a couple of injuries during the international break, Tuchel may have to restructure his lineup for the Der Klassiker.
Bayern Munich
Despite the German National team having a strong international break, the news for Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer was not as positive. Neuer was forced to leave the German camp after suffering a muscle injury in training. With the Champions League games against Arsenal around the corner, Neuer looks set to miss the Dortmund match and continue his recovery for the Champions League fixtures. Sven Ulreich will start in the goal against Dortmund.
Joshua Kimmich looks to have found his form in the right-back position for club and country. I don't expect Tuchel to make a change at this point. The center-back duo of Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Dier has looked settled in the heart of defense. Tuchel will stick with the same defensive partnership against Dortmund. While Alphonso Davies remains in a contract dispute with the club, he is finally fit and I see him starting in the left-back position.
Leon Goretzka remained in Munich as he did not get a national team call-up during the international break. Despite the exclusion from Julian Nagglesman's squad, Goretzka has certainly been in form for Tuchel. His partnership with the young Aleksandar Pavlovic has given Bayern a clear identity in the midfield. Goretzka will start as one of the defensive midfielders. While Goretzka was left in Munich for the national team games, Pavlovic received his first call-up for the German national team. However, Pavlovic couldn't join the squad due to illness. The youngster will need more time to complete his recovery, which will allow Konrad Laimer to start in central midfield. Thomas Muller has seen his playing time increase with Jamal Musiala's move to the wing. I don't see Tuchel messing with what is working, so Muller should start in the number ten role.
While Leroy Sane struggling to replicate his form from the first half of the season, Tuchel continues to trust the German winger and he will again on Saturday. Jamal Musiala has been in sensational form since moving to the wide position. He is currently in the form of his life. Bayern have been sweating the fitness of center forward Harry Kane. Tuchel played down the fears in the press conference on Friday as he confirmed Kane's availability for Der Klassiker.
Bayern Munich Predicted Starting XI
Ulreich
Kimmich-de Ligt-Dier-Davies
Laimer-Goretzka
Sane-Muller-Musiala
Kane
Borussia Dortmund
It's hard to believe Dortmund was just a Jamal Musiala winner away from claiming the Bundesliga title last season. Not only have Dortmund seen Leverkusen surpass them in the Bundesliga table, but Edin Terzic's men sit fourth behind VfB Stuttgart. While they remain in the Champions League spot right now, they will keep an eye behind them as they sit just one point in front of RB Leipzig in the chase for the top four. A win in Munich on Saturday would be a big boost for Terzic's men.
Dortmund starting goalkeeper Gregor Kobel seems to be struggling with illness on the eve of Saturday's match. With Kobel ruled out for Der Klassiker, Alexander Meyer will start in the goal for Dortmund. Julian Ryerson will play in the right-back position with Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen starting on the left side of the back four. In central defense, former Bayern Munich man Niklas Sule will start alongside Nico Schlotterbeck.
Dortmund will be without former Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer through suspension, which will pave the way in the starting XI for Felix Nmecha. Emre Can will partner Nmecha in central midfield. Julian Brandt has performed quite well since moving from the wide position to attacking midfield. He will get the opportunity to impress centrally on Saturday.
Donyell Malen has been ruled out for the game against Bayern due to a thigh injury. It is a massive blow for Dortmund since Malen has been in good form for them this season. Karim Adeyemi will start on the left, while Jadon Sancho play on the right flank. Niclas Fullkrug will start centrally and look to add to his tally of 11 goals in the Bundesliga.
Borussia Dortmund Predicted Starting XI
Meyer
Ryerson-Sule-Schlotterbeck-Maatsen
Can-Nmecha
Adeyemi-Brandt-Sancho
Fullkrug
Score Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-1 Borussia Dortmund (Kane, Muller, Musiala)
Borussia Dortmund have found results against Bayern Munich very hard to come by. Having lost 4-0 earlier this season, and 4-2 in Thomas Tuchel's first game last season, Terzic doesn't seem to have figured out what it takes to slow down Bayern's attack. With Tuchel seeming to have found his strongest starting XI, I think Dortmund will again falter at Allianz Arena.