Bundesliga Bayern 1st 17 points, goal difference +19 | Bundesliga Dortmund 2nd 17 points, goal difference +8 | League goals Bayern scored 25 The most in the Bundesliga | League goals Dortmund conceded 4 The fewest in the Bundesliga |
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| 01 The Big Take |
| Seven games in, the table can't split them on points. Tonight it might. |
| Bayern lead only on goal difference. Dortmund arrive unbeaten in the league and on a run of three straight wins in all competitions, the latest a 3–2 DFB-Pokal win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday. Under Niko Kovac they're built to defend first: four goals conceded in seven league games, the fewest in the Bundesliga. |
| Bayern have the rested Ballon d'Or winner. Kane sat out all of Wednesday's 6–1 against Magdeburg and has six goals in six Bundesliga games against Dortmund, including a hat-trick in his first Klassiker in November 2023. |
| Kompany is recovering at home after leaving hospital on Wednesday. Danks said he has been told not to involve Kompany in any discussions: "Absolutely not! We take this really seriously" (our translation). |
| Bayern have scored 25. Dortmund have conceded four. Something has to give. |
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| Team news is from Friday's press conference, via t-online and Get German Football News. Kimmich's involvement was still open when we wrote this. |
| 02 The Tactical Take |
| Four things that decide it |
| 1 · Dortmund's back five |
| Previews expect Kovac's 3-4-2-1, with the wing-backs dropping in to make a back five without the ball. That shuts the wide spaces Olise and Davies used against Magdeburg. Bayern will need Kane dropping into midfield to pull a centre-back out. |
| 2 · Kimmich, or not |
| Danks: "Jo Kimmich has trained individually so far and will train with the team for the first time today. We'll see how it goes for him." If he starts next to Pavlović, Bayern have their first-choice midfield for the first time since Leipzig. If not, it's Laimer or Bischof again. |
| 3 · The space behind |
| Dortmund want to win the ball and break. Guirassy is the target, with Beier and Sabitzer running off him. Bayern's high line is the gap they'll aim for, with Urbig behind it. |
| 4 · The last 15 minutes |
| Bayern have conceded in five games in a row, four of those goals after the 80th minute. Against the league's tightest defence, one late goal could decide it. |
| Dortmund are without Karetsas and Konstantelias. Predicted line-ups are from Sports Mole and The Hard Tackle. |
| 03 The Numbers |
4 Goals Dortmund have conceded in seven league games. The fewest in the Bundesliga. Bayern have conceded six. |
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6 in 6 Kane's goals in Bundesliga games against Dortmund. Including a hat-trick in his first Klassiker. |
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2–1 Bayern's Supercup win over Dortmund in August. Bayern have won the last three meetings and are unbeaten in five. |
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2012 Dortmund's last Bundesliga title. Under Jürgen Klopp, in 2011–12. |
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| 04 The One Thing You Missed |
Beyond the headlines Dortmund have changed how they win What we saw Dortmund have scored 12 league goals, half Bayern's total, but conceded only four. Kovac's side wins games by not losing them first. What we think it means This won't look like the 6–1 against Leipzig, where Bayern found space behind a high line. Dortmund won't leave that space. Patience, and set pieces, may matter more than speed. |
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| 05 The Counterargument |
| Maybe Dortmund are the favourites |
| — Bayern are still short. No Neuer, Musiala or Díaz, Kimmich only just back in training, and the manager at home. |
| — Dortmund are harder to beat. Unbeaten in the league, and the tightest defence in Germany. |
| — Bayern keep conceding. Five games in a row with a goal against. Dortmund need only one chance. |
| 06 What to Watch |
| Four things to look for tonight |
1 | The team sheet. Whether Kimmich starts, and whether Pavlović and Kim are fit to begin. |
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2 | Kane against the back three. He has scored against Dortmund in this fixture before. Can he pull Schlotterbeck or Anton out of the line? |
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3 | Urbig against Guirassy. Neuer is out again. The biggest game of Urbig's run so far. |
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4 | The first goal. Against a side that has conceded four in seven, going behind would be a real problem. |
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| Out for Bayern: Neuer (foot), Musiala (muscle), Díaz (hamstring), Ndiaye. Kimmich is a decision on the day. Danks takes the team. |
The B90 Question Should Kimmich start against Dortmund, or come off the bench? Tell us on X @Beyond90Bayern. We'll pick up the best answers in the post-match issue. |
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Next: Atlético Madrid v Bayern
Champions League · League phase, matchday 4
Tue 3 Nov · 20:00 UK |
| Sources: t-online: Danks press conference · Get German Football News: Kimmich, Neuer · Sports Mole: form, team news, head-to-head · The Hard Tackle: tactics, Kane v Dortmund · DieBayern: Kompany leaves hospital · Results and table: GoalIQ |
BEYOND 90 Bayern Munich, beyond the scoreline. Tactical insight. Honest analysis. Opinions you won't get from the usual coverage. An independent publication. Not affiliated with or endorsed by FC Bayern München. |
