Der Klassiker 2026: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund preview as Kane chases Lewandowski record

Berlin: Der Klassiker is in danger of not living up to its name. The growing gulf between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund means German football’s showpiece presents more of an opportunity for Bayern to display their superiority than for Dortmund to mount a genuine challenge to the Bavarian powerhouse.

Dortmund host Bayern tonight for a meeting of the Bundesliga’s top two, but it’s unlikely to have any impact on the title race. Bayern are already eight points clear and closing in on yet another championship. Bayern have won 12 of the last 13 since Dortmund won back-to-back titles in 2012.

This, despite the fact Dortmund are enjoying their best Bundesliga season since that 2012 title.


Bayern and Dortmund have lost only once in the league. In Dortmund’s case it was to Bayern, 2-1 in the reverse fixture in Munich in October. Bayern were surprised at home by Augsburg last month, when an uncharacteristic wobble (Bayern drew the next game at Hamburger SV) allowed Dortmund to close the gap to six points. Then Dortmund drew at Leipzig 2-2 last weekend to give Bayern their eight-point cushion with 11 rounds to go.

Bayern have dropped points only four times, with 19 wins from 23 games. Since Bayern defeated Dortmund 2-1 in the 2013 Champions League final in London, Bayern have won 24 of the teams’ 37 meetings across all competitions. Three of Dortmund’s nine wins from those encounters were in the unimportant German Supercup, and there were four draws.

While Bayern have had a whole week to prepare, Dortmund were in Bergamo, Italy, on Wednesday for a painful Champions League exit to Atalanta.

Bayern star Harry Kane recently celebrated 500 goals for club and country. He has 28 in 23 Bundesliga appearances this season and is scoring at such a rate that Robert Lewandowski’s season record of 41 from 2020-21 is under threat.