Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund: Line-ups, preview and stats

Match Preview for Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund

Over recent years, Der Klassiker has played a pivotal role in determining who out of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund would go on and clinch the Bundesliga.

Over the past two seasons, however, that has changed with Bayer Leverkusen emerging as Bayern’s nearest challengers.

Bayern are favourites to win the ‘salad bowl’ this year having established a six-point lead over Xabi Alonso’s men with six games remaining. That gap would shrink to three if Leverkusen can see off Union Berlin earlier on Saturday.

Bayern will also be desperate to erase the memory of the midweek 2-1 defeat at home to Inter Milan that has put their hopes of Champions League progression in jeopardy.

And it remains to be seen if boss Vincent Kompany takes the risk of resting some key players ahead of the return game at San Siro on Wednesday.

The Belgian said: “We’re at a point in the season where everything is important – every moment, every minute. The fact it’s Der Klassiker is an extra ingredient. The fact you’ve only got 15 players available with Bundesliga experience, it’s less of a headache because we need everybody. Everyone will have an important role.”

Although not in title contention, Dortmund still have plenty to play for.

First there’s the desire to overcome the disappointment of their 4-0 hiding by Barcelona in the Champions League, a result that renders the second leg all but redundant.

And they are still in the mix for a Champions League place for next season.

They are currently eighth but just five points adrift of fourth-placed Mainz.

Boss Niko Kovac, a former coach of Bayern, said: “We have to put in a good performance; that’s the only way we have a chance of winning. Everyone has a responsibility, we as the coaching staff and the players. Only together can we win in Munich.

“We have to be prepared to run a lot and make the most of the moments we get. Then it’s about everyone being brave enough to push forward. If you try to just defend for 90 minutes, it will be very difficult. We have to be ice-cold.”

Locked in and focused for #FCBBVB tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/eqtv5cUfBQ

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) April 11, 2025

Team News for Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund

Kompany hinted it will be the same squad that faced Inter with Manuel Neuer not yet fit and Jamal Musiala also missing. Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito are long-term absentees.

“Aleks Pavlovic and Kingsley Coman will be in training today and will do some tests, but I’m presuming that nothing will change in terms of the squad for the Dortmund game. We also can’t say anything yet about Manuel Neuer for the Inter second leg,” said Kompany.

Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck is out for up to six months due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. Pascal Gross could return.

Predicted line-ups for Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich: Urbig; Laimer, Kim, Dier, Guerreiro; Goretzka, Kimmich, Olise, Gnabry, Sane, Kane

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Anton, Rensebaini; Gittens, Brandt, Gross, Chukwuemeka, Adeyemi; Guirassy

🧮 Zum 112. Mal in der Bundesliga, zum 137. Mal insgesamt, stehen sich Borussia Dortmund und Bayern München am morgigen Spieltag (18:30 Uhr) gegenüber.

Der Tabellenführer im Fakten-Check:
🔗 https://t.co/Huy2tB3OjO pic.twitter.com/dpPH7YRiK9

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 11, 2025