Bayern Munich clash with arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena on April 12, eager to maintain their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table with a win over struggling BVB.
Die Rekordmeister want to wrestle the Meisterschale back from Bayer Leverkusen, but long-time foes Dortmund will be determined to spoil the party.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany, despite the many criticisms, has steered this team back to the summit.
However, the job is not done yet, with a rejuvenated Leverkusen keen to pile on the pressure.
At the time of writing, Bayern sit six points clear at the zenith with seven games to go.
But clashes with Bavarian rivals Augsburg and eternal foes Dortmund could see them drop points if they are not careful, especially after their poor showing versus FC St Pauli last week.
Meanwhile, Dortmund continue to blow hot and cold. The hiring of former Bayern manager Niko Kovac has not changed their fortunes.
They have lost four times in his seven Bundesliga games in charge of Die Schwarz Gelben (W3).
Last season, BVB secured Champions League football by the skin of their teeth, but it is looking unlikely this term, with Dortmund seven points away from fourth-placed Mainz 05.
However, BVB must take confidence from their shock win over Mainz and try to take the game to Bayern, who are not in dominant form.
Injuries have left the record champions vulnerable, and Dortmund need to pull out all the stops to get one over their opponents.
These two German giants always deliver cracking match-ups, and April 12 will be no different.
Grab Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund tickets from reliable marketplace Seatsnet.com to watch the action live at the Allianz Arena.
Match Preview
Bayern continued to charge towards their 32nd Bundesliga title with a not-so-straightforward win over lowly St Pauli.
They secured three points, but the newcomers made life difficult and the final minutes tentative.
Injuries have ravaged the Bayern squad. The much-improved Dayot Upamecano is out for the season. So is buccaneering left-back Alphonso Davies.
Manuel Neuer, Hiroki Ito and Raphael Guerreiro joined the duo on the treatment table for an unspecified period.
Bayern showed signs of vulnerability at the back. They may have the best defence in Europe, but the makeshift rearguard that faced St Pauli failed to assert themselves.
The positionally inept Kim Min-jae kept getting dragged into uncomfortable isolations, and the St Pauli forward line got the better of him on several occasions.
Teams will be looking to exploit that shaky pairing of Eric Dier and Min-jae.
If Guerreiro does not return to action soon, they will be without a recognised left-back, weakening the already wobbly defence.
However, as susceptible as Bayern are at the back, they remain a fearsome force in attack.
Jamal Musiala, Harry Kane and Michael Olise form a terrific frontline that can take down any opposition. Leroy Sane is also in a rich vein of form, with three goals in his last two league outings.
Kane can run BVB ragged at home. In his three Bundesliga meetings with Dortmund, he has netted three times.
While at Tottenham Hotspur, he faced Dortmund three times and scored four goals.
Kane is the dangerman, but BVB must also be watchful for the twinkle feet of Musiala and playmaker supreme Olise.
Dortmund’s puzzling, sentimental decision to hire Nuri Sahin after parting ways with the unconvincing Edin Terzic backfired spectacularly, as he was clearly out of his depth.
He was dismissed after a run of four successive losses.
Fans clamoured for a forward-thinking managerial choice, such as VfB Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness, only to be stuck with the dreary Kovac.
As everyone but the Dortmund hierarchy expected, he has not made much of a difference at Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund have one win in their last three league games, although it came against surprise Bundesliga package Mainz.
In-form Karim Adeyemi assisted Maximilian Beier for the opener before Nico Schlotterbeck bagged two assists from corners that Beier and Emre Can converted to stun the 05ers.
Dortmund looked notably sharper and more assertive against Mainz but must raise their game by several levels to stand a chance against rampant Bayern.
They need to play out of their skin at the Allianz Arena to leave with a result against a team desperately gunning for the title.
Head to Head
The last time Bayern met Dortmund at the Allianz Arena, Die Schwarz Gelben humbled the hosts.
BVB stunned the Rekordmeister as goals from Adeyemi and Julian Ryerson gave them three points and further derailed Bayern, allowing Leverkusen to clinch the title.
Earlier this season, Dortmund looked on course for another shock win before a late goal from Musiala snatched a point for the table-toppers.
Dortmund have every reason to believe they can dent Bayern’s title hopes.
But if Bayern get their tails up, they could be hard to stop. Before that 2-0 win in March 2024, Dortmund had not beaten Bayern in ten Bundesliga meetings.
The last time they won a game at the Allianz Arena? 2014.
Best XIs
Bayern have been blighted by a raft of injuries threatening to disrupt their campaign.
Upamecano, Neuer, Ito, Davies and Guerreiro are big misses that leave a gaping hole in the rearguard for Dortmund to capitalise on.
Dortmund do not have a clean bill of health either. Striker and top scorer Serhou Guirassy might not be ready to lead the line after missing the Mainz game.
Also, the Bayern game comes too soon for midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. The influential Austrian is an invaluable asset in the BVB engine room.
Bayern Munich potential starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Jonas Urbig; Konrad Laimer, Eric Dier, Kim Min-jae, Josip Stanisic; Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka; Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane; Harry Kane.
Borussia Dortmund potential starting line-up:
(3-1-4-2): Gregor Kobel; Waldemar Anton, Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck; Salih Ozcan; Julian Ryerson, Julian Brandt, Pascal Gross, Yan Couto; Karim Adeyemi, Maximilian Beier.
Ticket Information
If you want to experience the thrill of live Bundesliga football or enjoy Bayern’s games specifically, then your best bet is to secure tickets through official club websites.
For great deals and a wide selection of seats, check out Bayern Munich tickets on Seatsnet.com, which is also the most reliable marketplace for finding tickets to every Bundesliga fixture.
How to Watch the Bundesliga in the UK
Sky Sports host the rights to Bundesliga football in the United Kingdom. They show the occasional match on Sky Sports Mix, which is free to air, but the rest is all via a subscription service.
The cost can vary depending on the package, from as little as £15 a month to over £40 a month. As always, Sky Sports has a number of packages currently available.
So, whether you’re just looking to watch live games from the Bundesliga or whether you’re looking for something a little more comprehensive, you’re sure to find something to fit your needs.
