By Can Erozden
"Der Klassiker" (The Classic) fever to hit the German top-tier Bundesliga this weekend as Borussia Dortmund will play against Bayern Munich in a Saturday home match.
The Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich tie is viewed as the most thrilling match in Germany for the teams' rivalries.
Defending champions Bayern Munich are not alone in the race for the 2024 Bundesliga title. The Bavarians are now second with 23 points in the standings, led by Bayer Leverkusen, who have 25 points in nine matches.
Title contenders Borussia Dortmund have 21 points to be in the fourth position in the league as the home team of the 'Klassiker' must win on Saturday to be above Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich are dominant against Borussia Dortmund in general. Bayern won eight of the last nine 'Klassiker' meetings in the Bundesliga. A previous meeting at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park in Oct. 2022 ended a 2-2 draw.
In their latest meeting, Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 at Munich's Allianz Arena.
The Signal Iduna Park is a home fortress for Borussia Dortmund, as they are unbeaten in their last 20 Bundesliga home matches.
BVB's last defeat at home was against Werder Bremen by 3-2 in August 2022.
Saturday's showdown at Signal Iduna Park will start at 1730GMT.
- Bayern pair Kane, Kim set for their first 'Klassiker'
Bayern Munich's summer signings, England star Harry Kane and South Korean defender Kim Min-jae, are set for their first Bundesliga Klassiker on Saturday.
Kane, who was a longtime Tottenham Hotspur member, is Bayern's main goal threat following his move to Germany in August, one of the sensational moves in European football.
This season, the 30-year-old central forward scored 14 goals in 12 Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League matches.
Kim, who had played for Türkiye's Fenerbahce, won the 2023 Italian Serie A title in his first season with Napoli. The 26-year-old South Korean international left Napoli for Bayern in July.
- Sabitzer set to play in 'Klassiker' for both clubs
Now a Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Marcel Sabitzer from Austria has played for Bayern Munich for at least a season in 2021-2023.
Sabitzer, 29, had a short loan spell with England's Manchester United between February and May, but he returned to Munich then.
In July, Sabitzer left Bayern Munich for BVB.
Meanwhile, Portugal's Raphael Guerreiro, a Borussia Dortmund left-back in 2016-2023, is Bayern Munich's summer signing.
Guerreiro is not expected to face his old club at Signal Iduna Park as the 29-year-old Portuguese international had a strained muscle in his left thigh, as Bayern Munich previously confirmed in early October.
- Bayern troubled by injuries, Kimmich's suspension
In their visit to Dortmund, which is expected to be a tense affair, Bayern Munich may lack many players because of injuries and suspension.
Joshua Kimmich, a main pillar of Bayern Munich, was sent off in his team's 8-0 win over Darmstadt last weekend. So, the 28-year-old German midfielder is suspended for this game.
Leon Goretzka, another Bayern midfielder, is doubtful for a broken hand injury. The German player underwent a successful operation in late October.
Dayot Upamecano, a Bayern defender in center, has been suffering from a hamstring injury for a couple of weeks.
Bayern Munich's Dutch central defender Matthijs de Ligt was injured after a knee injury in a Wednesday German Cup match. Favorites Bayern suffered a shock elimination after a 2-1 loss to third-tier Saarbrucken this week.
- Kane leading Bayern in goals
Kane scored 12 Bundesliga goals to lead Bayern Munich in this field as his team tallied 34 goals in nine league matches.
The English forward is currently in second place in this season's Bundesliga top scorers list, currently led by Serhou Guirassy.
Stuttgart member Guirassy bagged 14 goals to be on top.
Leroy Sane, another Bayern attacker, had eight Bundesliga goals to be third in the top scorers list.
Borussia Dortmund scored 20 goals this season.
Julian Brandt is Borussia Dortmund's top scorer, as the German attacking midfielder had four goals in the domestic league.
A Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder since 2012, Marco Reus, and Dutch winger Donyell Malen had three league goals each in the 2023-24 campaign.