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Bayern Munich’s home ‘Klassiker’ against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday takes place against the looming threat of Champions League elimination for both clubs.
The match, which has become the Bundesliga’s marquee rivalry over the past 15 years since Dortmund’s back-to-back title triumphs under Jurgen Klopp, falls between the two legs of both teams’ Champions League quarter-finals.
On Tuesday, Bayern Munich, ravaged by injuries, suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Inter Milan in the first leg. The Bavarians now face a daunting task in the second leg, needing to win by two goals to avoid extra time or by one goal and hope to triumph on penalties. However, Bayern’s record at the San Siro offers some encouragement: they have won three times and drawn twice in five previous games at the Milan stadium, which was also the site of their 2001 Champions League final win over Valencia.
Meanwhile, Dortmund’s situation is far more perilous. The Bundesliga side, who were Champions League finalists last season, were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Barcelona and now face one of the toughest comebacks in the competition’s history if they are to reach the semi-finals.
Both Bayern and Dortmund are also fighting for points in the league, adding further pressure to their European ambitions. With six games left, Bayern could be just three points ahead of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen by the time Saturday’s game kicks off, should Xabi Alonso’s side beat Union Berlin earlier that day. Bayern cannot afford to drop points against Dortmund, as Leverkusen has been in fine form, winning 14 of their last 18 matches, with just one defeat.
Dortmund, in search of keeping their Champions League hopes alive, sit eighth in the league, five points behind the top four, and will be desperate to secure every point available when they travel to Munich.
After their heavy defeat in Barcelona, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac warned that Bayern posed a similar challenge. “Bayern are on the same level as Barcelona. We need to improve defensively,” he said. “A defeat is always a setback, but the Bundesliga is a different matter. Bayern are fighting for the title, and we know it won’t be easy.”
However, Dortmund can take some comfort from their 2-0 victory in Munich last season, marking their first league win in the Bavarian capital since 2014.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen’s pursuit of Bayern for the top spot in the Bundesliga could get a timely boost with the return of Florian Wirtz from injury. Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed on Tuesday that Wirtz “will be fit to play this weekend, if nothing happens.”
A player eager for Wirtz’s return is striker Patrik Schick, who has scored eight goals this season, with Wirtz providing the assist for eight of them. Schick has scored just once since Wirtz’s injury.
