It is the most anticipated match across the Rhine each season. Borussia Dortmund (2nd) met Bayern Munich (1st) on the 24th day of the Bundesliga. This 139th Der Klassiker in history arrived in a rather special context for the BvB, just four days after the elimination against Atalanta in the Champions League play-off. Niko Kovač’s men therefore had to turn the page this Saturday afternoon in front of their home crowd. But facing the undisputed leader of the Bundesliga, the task looked complicated for the residents of Signal Iduna Park.
During this shock, Kovač made five changes compared to the team which had lost in Italy in midweek: Bensebaini and Guirassy were notably left on the bench to the detriment of Schlotterbeck and Fabio Silva in this 3-4-2-1. For his part, Vincent Kompany had to do without Neuer or Davies to compose his 4-2-3-1. Faced with a well-grouped BvB team, the Bavarians had difficulty being dangerous, although they had the first opportunity of the match, signed by Olise on this shot wrapped and deflected by Kobel (18th).
30 league goals for Kane, 11 days remaining
Two minutes later, Schlotterbeck received a yellow card for a nasty foul on Stanišić. Enough to provoke the anger of the Munich residents, who believed that the German defender should have been expelled. An anger which was further accentuated when Schlotterbeck opened the scoring with a header, after a free kick from Svensson (26th, 1-0). In front of a lively Westfalenstadion crowd, the Yellows and Blacks contained the Bavarian attacks. At the start of the second half, Bayern Munich came very close to equalizing, but Upamecano poorly recovered the good ball delivered by Gnabry at the far post (52nd). But it was only a postponement for the Bavarians, who equalized two minutes later, thanks to the 29th goal of the inevitable Harry Kane in the championship in this 2025/2026 exercise (54th, 1-1).
From that point on, the two teams went blow for blow. After a foul by Schlotterbeck on Stanišić in the area, Kane beat Kobel again (70th, 1-2) to score his 10th penalty of the season and, above all, bring his total to 30 goals this season in the league. The former Tottenham player therefore comes within ten lengths of the record for goals in a season, held by Robert Lewandowski (2020-2021, 41 goals). But while victory seemed to be destined for Bayern, Svensson equalized for BvB with a superb volley (83rd, 2-2). The joy of the supporters of the Yellow and Blacks finally quickly subsided, when Kimmich allowed Bayern to get back in front at this unbreathable end to the match (87th, 2-3). At the end of a superb opposition, Bayern achieved a 20th league victory this season, allowing them to take an 11-point lead over their second.
