Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich: 5 players to watch out for in Der Klassiker

Bundesliga’s matchday 28 will begin with the mother of all clashes – Der Klassiker – with Borussia Dortmund playing host to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night in an epic encounter which could go a long way in deciding who will be crowned champions this season. 

The onus will be on Lucien Favre’s men, who currently trail the Bavarian giants by four points, and a defeat could really dent their hopes of stopping Bayern’s march towards an unprecedented eighth consecutive Bundesliga title. 

With that said, Borussia Dortmund have been playing some excellent football since the resumption of the league, and so have Bayern, which will only add to the appeal of this mouth-watering clash. Both teams are on a two-game winning run since the Bundesliga returned to action after the coronavirus-enforced break.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the five players to watch out for in Der Klassiker:

#5 Thomas Muller

No player in the Bundesliga has provided more assists than Thomas Muller, whose tally of 17 layoffs is a record this season. Overall, he has 11 goals and 20 assists across all competitions in the present campaign, proving to be a crucial cog in Bayern Munich’s excellent run so far. 

The German playmaker has a reputation of being a big-game player. He has risen to the occasion many times, so it only makes sense to assume that Muller will fare well against the Black and Yellows on Tuesday. 

#4 Alphonso Davies

The Canadian teenager has been a revelation for the Bavarians this season, going on to make the left-back position his own. 

Bayern’s defensive crisis forced Hansi Flick to utilise David Alaba as a makeshift centre-back but in his absence, Alphonso Davies has been going from strength to strength, earning plaudits from all quarters following his supreme performances. 

The 19-year-old has racked up a tally of two goals and nine assists across all competitions this season and could be a menace for Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker. 

#3 Raphael Guerreiro

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund can also boast of having a left-back who is in goalscoring form. Raphael Guerreiro scored a brace against Schalke and also opened the scoring against Wolfsburg last week. 

The Portuguese wing-back has been thriving in Lucien Favre’s system which allows plenty of freedom to the wide players. As a result, Guerreiro has recorded eights goals and five assists in total. 

Keep a close eye on Cristiano Ronaldo’s compatriot as he could be a superstar in the making. 

#2 Robert Lewandowski

Bundesliga’s top scorer this season with 27 goals, Robert Lewandowski has elevated his game to a new level altogether. Borussia Dortmund will be familiar to his threat, as the Polish striker has punished his former side on many occasions. 

In total, the 31-year-old has already racked up a tally of 41 goals this term, which is truly mind-boggling. BVB have kept two consecutive clean sheets since the league’s resumption, but they’ll have to work incredibly hard on Tuesday to keep Lewandowski at bay. 

#1 Erling Haaland

The fact that a teenager stands at the top of this list, makes it obvious the kind of hype that has been surrounding Erling Haaland. He is Borussia Dortmund’s answer to Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski. 

The Norwegian striker has scored 10 goals in as many Bundesliga games, and you’d bank on him to make some sort of an impact in his first-ever Der Klassiker. Haaland’s pace and directness would surely keep the Bavarians on their toes. 

Both sides have looked shaky at the back, so the game could very well be a high-scoring one and could be decided by which team make their chances count the most. 

All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.co.in