Bayern Munich welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Allianz Arena on Saturday for what promises to be a highly entertaining clash at the top of the Bundesliga, say agencies.
The home side play their first league game since sacking Niko Kovac over the weekend, while Dortmund come into the affair knowing that a convincing victory could send them to the top of the table. While the situation is far from dire, Bayern players will know that they must combine their attacking potential with an element of collective grit if they are to reign supreme in Germany and Europe like the Jupp Heynckes team that reached consecutive Champions League finals in 2012 and 2013.
On current evidence, however, Bayern's ability to control games has somewhat diminished this season, with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery's departure over the summer leaving behind a talented but perhaps more inexperienced group of players. The meeting with Lucien Favre's side, who will look to hit the German champions hard on the counter, should serve as a strong indication of how much mettle this Bayern team can exhibit when the heat is really on. For a team that usually serves as Bayern's chief source of domestic competition, such a horrible record comes as a surprise, but can also be partly explained by a historical inferiority complex towards its more successful, richer rival, much like how Marseille views Paris Saint-Germain or how Napoli views Juventus.
However, Dortmund have good reason to believe that this year's visit to Bavaria could be different, with Bayern lacking its usual inner sense of arrogance at a time when they are managed by assistant coach Hansi Flick. While one club finds itself undergoing notable change, Dortmund are motoring along under the guidance of Favre, whose side has the joint best defensive record in the league this season and also boasts prodigal young attacking talents such as Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard and Jadon Sancho.
Indeed, with just one point separating the two teams in the Bundesliga, perhaps the key variable on Saturday will be how well these Dortmund players can compose themselves in the cauldron of the Allianz Arena. Bayern are definitely without Niklas Sule for this game after the defender suffered a serious knee injury that has ruled him out for the season.
Jann-Fiete Arp is also out due to a broken wrist, while Lucas Hernandez is not expected to recover from an ankle injury until next month. Favre faces an anxious wait on the fitness of Sancho, who picked up a hamstring strain during the week, and will also make a late call on Hazard and Marco Reus ahead of the game.
Marcel Schmelzer will not recover from a hip problem in time for this game and the same goes for goalkeeper Marwin Hitz, who suffered a back injury during the 3-2 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday.
