Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund

Allianz Arena forms the backdrop for a blockbuster Bundesliga top-table six-pointer between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Despite boasting a jaw-dropping win ratio of 71%, Julian Nagelsmann is no longer Bayern Munich manager after failing to win 50% of his Bundesliga assignments in 2023 (W5, D3, L2). A gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on the eve of March’s international break was a straw to break the camel’s back as the ‘Bavarians’ appointed ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as Nagelsmann’s successor last week. Tuchel’s touchline debut pits him against his former employers Borussia Dortmund, a side his new club hasn’t lost to in eight consecutive top-flight H2Hs. But a disgusting 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture in October halted Bayern’s imperious run of seven straight H2H league victories. Still, Tuchel has inherited a decent home form that’s seen Bayern win their last four competitive outings at the Allianz Stadium by an aggregate score of 15-3.

In the meantime, Borussia Dortmund’s domestic form in 2023 has been the one for history books, with ‘Die Borussen’ racking up nine wins and one draw from ten Bundesliga games this calendar year to move one point clear at the top of the table. Halting an embarrassing eight-match losing league streak at the Allianz Arena would be a statement of intent as Edin Terzic’s men bid to end Bayern’s decade-long dominance of German football. However, after winning their first five competitive away fixtures to start 2023 on the front foot, the visitors have gone winless on their last two travels (D1, L1), conceding precisely twice on both occasions. Nonetheless, a scintillating 6-1 romping of Cologne ahead of the international could go a long way in consolidating Dortmund’s pursuit of a long-awaited triumph at Bayern.