Historic foes Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund arrive in peak condition for 'Klassiker' showdown
Bayern Munich, sitting atop the league standings, will welcome second-placed Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, as both teams remain undefeated following impressive starts to the campaign.
Bayern have secured victories in all 10 of their fixtures across competitions, netting 36 goals while allowing just seven.
Key forward Harry Kane is enjoying what could be described as the finest spell of his professional career.
The 32 year old, who netted twice during England's 5-0 victory against Latvia on Tuesday, has contributed 18 goals and three assists across those 10 outings for Bayern.
As Bayern have surged ahead in the Bundesliga and Champions League rankings with dominant displays, Dortmund are steadily building a solid foundation to their season.
Dortmund remain unbeaten over nine matches in various tournaments and trail Bayern by four points in the table.
Niko Kovac, who lifted two trophies during his time at Bayern before departing midway through the following season, now leads Dortmund and emphasised the need for boldness when facing off in Munich.
"Playing with excessive caution will make it tough," Kovac remarked on Thursday. "Simply focusing on defence will not suffice. We hold mutual respect, yet we must seize the momentum.
"Replicating our performance from last year in Munich could give us a strong opportunity, but bravery is essential.
"We recognise the exceptional run Bayern are on. Such consistent excellence from a team is rare."
Known as 'Der Klassiker' to mirror the intensity of La Liga's El Clasico, this matchup has often signalled the close of Dortmund's championship hopes.
Dortmund have suffered defeat in eight of their last 10 visits to Bayern in Munich.
However, Dortmund are enjoying their most promising streak against the Bavarian side since the days under Jurgen Klopp.
Dortmund have claimed one victory and two draws in their previous three encounters with Bayern, featuring a 2-0 triumph at the Allianz Arena in 2024.
Currently at the helm of Red Bull, the organisation behind rivals RB Leipzig, Klopp will skip the broadcast.
From the Spanish island of Mallorca, where he resides for significant periods, the ex Liverpool boss informed Germany's RTL on Thursday that he might lack the time to view it.
"Without work commitments, I would certainly tune in."
Player to follow: Loic Bade (Bayer Leverkusen)
Following a busy summer overhaul that saw roughly a dozen fresh signings, French defender Loic Bade has rapidly become a cornerstone of Bayer Leverkusen's backline.
At 25, Bade offers reliability in the centre of defence, displaying poise and command amid the squad's adjustments.
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes commended his "outstanding" on field contributions to AFP on Thursday, adding that Bade's influence extends beyond play.
"His role in the dressing room is crucial, bridging gaps through language, character, and team ethos.
"Loic brings real presence, and it shows."
Essential figures
10 - Dortmund's 2-0 success against Bayern in 2024 marked their initial league victory in Munich after a decade, tracing back to a 3-0 result in 2014.
11 - Harry Kane has tallied 11 strikes in six Bundesliga appearances this term.
1 - Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, given the green light to feature on Thursday, has contributed a goal or assist in seven of his eight games this season. He boasts six goals and three assists.
Schedule (1330 GMT unless noted)
Friday
Union Berlin v Borussia Moenchengladbach (1830)
Saturday
Mainz v Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig v Hamburg, Cologne v Augsburg, Heidenheim v Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg v Stuttgart, Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (1630)
Sunday
Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt, St Pauli v Hoffenheim (1530)