Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich – Bundesliga – Preview, Team News and Updates

The stage is set for the biggest showdown in German football. In just 24 hours, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will lock horns in a clash that promises to captivate fans around the globe. With Bayern sitting comfortably at the top of the table, Saturday’s blockbuster could inject fresh excitement into the Bundesliga title race.

The 2024/25 season began with both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund grappling with inconsistency—a natural outcome of each club entrusting relatively inexperienced managers to steer the ship. While Vincent Kompany seems to have found his groove in Bavaria, the same can't be said for Nuri Sahin at Dortmund. Die Schwarzgelben have struggled to string together consistent results under Sahin’s leadership and find themselves a staggering ten points adrift of Bayern in the title race after just 11 games. Saturday’s clash is shaping up to be a must-win for Dortmund if they hope to keep their slim championship hopes alive. 

Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany appears to be thriving at Bayern. After a rocky start, his tactical blueprint is finally paying dividends. The Bavarians sit comfortably atop the table, boasting the league’s most potent attack (36 goals) and stingiest defense (only seven conceded). Bayern aren't just winning—they’re doing it with the signature swagger that’s become synonymous with the club. In this red-hot form, Kompany’s side looks impervious. But this is the Klassiker, and anything can happen. So, can Dortmund rise to the occasion at the Westfalenstadion and reignite their season, or will Bayern stamp their authority and tighten their grip on the title race? 

Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich – Match Preview 

When Bayern Munich appointed Vincent Kompany as their new manager, it’s fair to say the decision raised more than a few eyebrows. After all, the Manchester City legend had just endured relegation with Burnley months earlier. But Bayern’s leadership believed Kompany could restore their dominance in Germany, given the wealth of talent at his disposal. Early on, though, skepticism about his abilities only grew louder, especially after humiliating Champions League defeats to Barcelona and Aston Villa. 

Fast forward, and the 38-year-old seems to be finding his feet. Bayern head into their showdown with Dortmund riding a wave of momentum, fresh off a gritty 1-0 win over PSG in the Champions League. That victory marked their seventh consecutive win. In fact, Bayern haven’t tasted defeat since late October when Barcelona handed them a humbling 4-1 loss. Since then, Kompany’s side has been nearly untouchable, scoring 18 goals across seven matches without conceding a single one. With this kind of form, Bayern are not just winning—they're dominating. And as they prepare to lock horns with Dortmund, it’s hard to see anyone stopping Kompany’s men right now. 

Having said that, Borussia Dortmund are more than capable of shaking up the Bundesliga title race with a statement win over Bayern Munich. After enduring a rough spell with four losses in five games, Die Schwarzgelben have found their rhythm, winning four of their last five outings. In that resurgence, they’ve netted 11 goals and conceded just two. Their recent performances have been particularly eye-catching, with back-to-back clean-sheet victories—a dominant 4-0 triumph over Freiburg in the Bundesliga followed by a confident 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb in Europe.  

But the real trump card is the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund’s home fortress hasn’t been breached since April, with the Yellow Wall inspiring the team to 12 wins and just one draw in their last 13 games. This season, they’ve already taken down heavyweights like RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt on home soil, proving they can deliver when the stakes are high. With Bayern arriving as the favorites, Dortmund have all the ingredients for an upset: form, home advantage, and a squad brimming with belief. But will Nuri Sahin’s men seize the moment and bring Bayern’s streak to a screeching halt? All eyes will be on the Signal Iduna Park to find out. 

Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich – Team News and Updates 

Borussia Dortmund will face Bayern Munich this weekend without their skipper Emre Can, as he serves the second of a two-match suspension. Adding to their woes, Karim Adeyemi remains sidelined due to a hamstring injury. There’s also concern over Julian Brandt, who exited at halftime against Dinamo Zagreb midweek with a muscle issue and is now a doubt for this crucial clash. However, there’s a silver lining as defensive stalwart Niklas Sule has recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out for over a month and could make his return to action. Up front, Serhou Guirassy, with an impressive 49 Bundesliga goals to his name, will be pushing to reclaim a starting spot from Maximilian Beier. Meanwhile, Julian Ryerson is expected to slot in at right-back, freeing Pascal Gross to return to his natural midfield role. 

Over in the Bayern camp, they’ll have to navigate this encounter without Joao Palhinha (groin), Hiroki Ito (broken foot), Josip Stanisic (knee), and Sven Ulreich (personal reasons). On a brighter note, Aleksandar Pavlovic is back in training following shoulder surgery but is unlikely to feature just yet. This keeps Leon Goretzka in line to partner Joshua Kimmich in the heart of midfield. The right-back position is still up for grabs, with Konrad Laimer or Raphael Guerreiro likely to step in. As for the attack, Michael Olise could be handed a start on the right flank, potentially replacing Leroy Sane. Olise would join an electric forward line featuring Jamal Musiala, Kingsley Coman, and the unstoppable Harry Kane, who smashed records last weekend by becoming the fastest player in Bundesliga history to net 50 goals. 

Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 30th November 2024 (Saturday) at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. The match will kick off at 11:00 PM (Indian Standard Time).  

Also Read: Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich Match Prediction, Fantasy Football Tips and Possible Starting XI