Daily Schmankerl: A “very special” Der Klassiker-laden Schmankerl to get your day going

Der Klassiker: A prediction (Bavarian Football Works)

A look at Dortmund

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is one of the classic match-ups in all of sport. In recent years (and largely in most years), the Bavarians have had the stronger, more explosive side. This season, however, things may be changing.

Dortmund is powered by Marco Reus, who is playing like the top overall player in the Bundesliga, and a bevy of potent scoring threats including Paco Alcacer, Christian Pulisic, Jadon Sancho, and Jacob Bruun Larson among others. It is not even how much Dortmund has scored that should be concerning, but the creativity and passion that they have displayed. BVB always looks dangerous.

The signings of Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney has solidified the midfield and made life extremely difficult for Dortmund’s opposition to maintain possession or break out. The back line, however, is prone to mistakes and this where Bayern’s possession-based style could make the difference.

A look at Bayern

The lineup for Die Roten is much anticipated. The talent on the Bayern roster is there, but Niko Kovač has not always deployed it in such a fashion that success has not been easy to come by. Irregular rotations and positional changes have been among the chief concerns as Bayern has struggled this season, but at some point Bayern has to play like Bayern.

Today should be the day.

We are expecting Die Roten to come out and play with urgency and precision today. This isn’t just Der Klassiker, this is a game that could likely shape the team’s mentality for the rest of the season. The defense will have to prevent Dortmund’s outside attack from creating chaos along the flanks and try to limit BVB’s ability to find Reus, who is paramount to the Dortmund attack.

Offensively, it is tough to say who might surround Robert Lewandowski, but Bayern needs whoever it is to create for the Pole and give him the requisite opportunities to play up to his potential. Oh yeah, and if Kovač refuses to start Thomas Muller and James Rodriguez together, then we might be able to mark this as the day that Kovač went “full Carlo.”

Prediction: Bayern Munich 3, Borussia Dortmund 1.

FIFA simulation video (@Bundesliga_EN)

If you missed our piece yesterday on the FIFA simulation that the Bundesliga ran, check out the highlight video below:

A video on the history and significance of Der Klassiker (Bundesliga You Tube)

A Klassiker Poll (Bavarian Football Works)

What is the most likely outcome?

Even more facts and history on Der Klassiker (FCBayern.com)

FCBayern.com took a run at previewing today’s match from a historical perspective:

Germany’s top two teams face off once again on Saturday evening (kick-off at 18:30 CET. It’s the 99th meeting between the sides in the Bundesliga, and the 50th in Dortmund. With 15 victories apiece and 19 draws with an aggregate scoreline of 68-67 there, the record is finely balanced. Last year FCB win 3-1 at the Westfalenstadion. FCBayern.com has further interesting facts and figures for you ahead of the game.

Overall record in FCB’s favour

FC Bayern hold a clear advantage in “Der Klassiker”, as the clash between FCB and BVB is known. The Munich club have 45 wins to their name, losing just 24 and drawing 29, scoring 188 and conceding 119. Bayern have lost just one of the last eight matches against Borussia (W6, D1).

Roles reversed

Dortmund first, Bayern four points behind in third – that’s how the Bundesliga table looks ahead of Saturday’s encounter. The last time Borussia were ahead of the record champions ahead of a Klassiker was on matchday 30 in 2011/12. Back then Dortmund were three points ahead and went on to lift the title at the end of the season. The roles have been the other way around in the last 12 Bundesliga encounters with Bayern always top of the league.

Both seven from eight

Home form meets away might in this fixture. Dortmund have won seven of their last eight in all competitions at the Westfalenstadion, while Bayern arrive with a strong record of seven victories from their last eight on the road in the league. Which side will be able to build on their runs on Saturday?

Champions of champions

In the last nine years, the Bundesliga title has either gone to Munich (7) or Dortmund (2). Twenty-one of the last 25 honours have been shared between FCB (16) and BVB (5). They are the only teams in that time to lift the Meisterschale on more than one occasion.

You can check out the entire piece here.

Univision Sports also put together some memorable moments from previous Bayern-Dortmund showdowns.

Watch how smooth Berni is (@FCBayernES)

Can he slide as easily in to DMs? Only the bear knows...

A call for fan groups (BavarianFootballWorks.com)

We are trying something here at the Daily Schmankerl and need YOUR help. If you read my man Tommy Adams’ piece about his experience with the FCBNYC Fan Club (if you haven’t, SHAME ON YOU!), you could see how great the event was. So we want to highlight some of these wonderful groups that are out there globally and this is what we need from you:

• Name of the group
• Location
• Year founded
• Leadership (if you have people are kind of running the show)
• Meeting place
• Social media handles
• Pictures

We want to be able to feature a different fan group every week this season. Maybe we can do it, maybe not...but only YOU can help decide the fate of this idea. Send your info to: barrelsportsblog@gmail.com