Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick-Off Time & Team News
Tuesday night will bring undoubtedly the biggest match since the return of football - a Klassiker with serious title implications.
Bayern Munich will be looking to extend their four-point advantage at the top of the table, while the young guns of Dortmund look to shoot down their rival's hopes of an eighth consecutive title.
A stadium accustomed to such passionate carnage, the Westfalenstadion, will be quiet for the first time. With no 'yellow wall' providing the twelfth man that has so often spurred the team on to their most memorable results, Dortmund will have to find encouragement elsewhere if they are to topple their bitter foes.
Both teams head into the derby with two wins out of two since the restart and each side will be looking to continue their run of form in a bid to seal the title. Since the surprise appointment of Hans-Dieter Flick, Bayern have enjoyed a steady improvement from the Niko Kovac days; the players have got behind Flick's tactical style and have steamrolled their way to the top of the table.
With the limelight beaming on Dortmund since the signing and performances of teenage superstar Erling Braut Haaland, Lucien Favre's side will want to prove that they are a threat from all areas of the pitch, and what more perfect way to do so than to topple the league leaders.
Where to Watch?
When is Kick-Off?: Tuesday 26 May
What Time is Kick-Off?: 17:30 (BST)
Where is it Played?: Westfalenstadion
TV Channel/Live Stream?: Fubo.tv (US), BT Sport (UK)
Team News
Lucien Favre has not guaranteed Jadon Sancho will start Der Klassiker and are hopeful experienced centre-back Mats Hummels will recover from an achilles problem to face his former employers on Tuesday.
Sancho - who's assist against Wolfsburg brought his tally to 16 for the season, surpassing Henrikh Mkhitaryan's record of 15 set back in 2015/16 - is struggling with a calf problem and has only trained with the team for 10 days. Marco Reus, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Axel Witsel all remain injured and will not feature.
Thiago Alcantara is struggling with a muscular injury as Flick admits the playmaker is unlikely to start the derby on Tuesday. Injury-plagued Lucas Hernandez is an option in central defence, though Flick remains keen on using the converted centre-back David Alaba having formed a strong partnership with Jerôme Boateng. Niklas Süle, Philippe Coutinho and Corentin Tolisso are still out injured and will not feature.
Predicted Lineups
Dortmund: Burki; Hummels, Akanji, Piszcek; Guerreiro, Dahoud, Delaney, Hakimi; Hazard, Brandt; Haaland.
Bayern: Neuer; Davies, Alaba, Boateng, Pavard; Kimmich, Goretzka, Gnabry, Muller, Coman; Lewandowski.
Head-to-Head Record
Historically this is a fixture Bayern have dominated, though the past few years have proven to be fairly evenly matched between the two with results going either way. Bayern cruised in the last encounter between the two sides with an emphatic 4-0 win at the Allianz Arena last November.
When Bayern beat Dortmund they have a habit of demolishing them; their last three victories in Der Klassiker have been 4-0, 5-0 and 6-0. Dortmund managed a 2-0 victory in the German Super Cup final back at the beginning of the season.
Recent Form
Both sides head into the derby riding six-game winning streaks in the Bundesliga. Bayern boast the best defensive record in the league with makeshift centre-back David Alaba performing admirably in his new role.
Die Roten are unbeaten in 12 league matches - the last time they tasted defeat was at the beginning of December in a 1-2 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Remarkably, Bayern have won every game they've played in Europe this season with seven straight Champions League wins, including the 7-2 annihilation of Spurs and a 3-0 drubbing of Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Haaland has been a remarkable addition to this Dortmund side; the Norwegian powerhouse has added a whole new dynamic in attack, and his 10 goals in 10 games in the league have boosted the team's fear factor.
With Dortmund unbeaten at home this season in all competitions, regardless of whether there's a crowd, statistically speaking the Westfalenstadion is the fortress of the Bundesliga.
Dortmund last experienced defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen back at the beginning of February, and Lucien Favre's side have gone from strength to strength since then as the team push to win their first title since 2011/12.
Here's a look at each side's last five outings.
Borussia Dortmund
Wolfsburg 0-2 Dortmund ( 23/5 )
Dortmund 4-0 Schalke ( 16/5 )
Bor. M'Gladbach 1-2 Dortmund ( 7/3 )
Dortmund 1-0 Freiburg ( 29/2 )
Werder Bremen 0-2 Dortmund ( 22/2 )
Bayern
Bayern 5-2 Frankfurt ( 23/5 )
Union Berlin 0-2 Bayern ( 17/5 )
Bayern 2-0 Augsburg ( 8/3 )
Hoffenheim 0-6 Bayern ( 29/2 )
Bayern 3-2 Paderborn ( 21/2 )
Prediction
This clash is the perfect opportunity for the young and hungry Dortmund to prove that they are title-worthy. BVB boast the best home record in the league, though without the intimidation factor of their fans it remains to be seen what sort of effect that daunting statistic will have on the travelling Bayern.
Bayern are the most proficient attacking team in the league with 80 goals, followed by Dortmund on 74. Expect Lewandowski and Haaland to be involved throughout; each striker's thirst for goals on the big stage is compelling.
Without Dortmund's famed 'yellow wall' it is difficult to say that they will have an advantage here playing at home, Bayern will be overjoyed at the lack of atmosphere and the gulf in quality between the two sides may become more apparent.
Prediction: Dortmund 2-4 Bayern