Borussia Dortmund 0-4 Bayern Munich: Initial reactions and observations

Initial reactions and observations

• This was perhaps the best performance Bayern Munich have had so far under Thomas Tuchel. The memory of Saarbrucken is not totally erased, but this performance is certainly a step in the right direction.
• Harry Kane is currently scoring at a higher rate than Robert Lewandowski in the year he broke Gerd Muller’s record. Is the record going to be broken again? The dude is simply a monster when he gets the right passes.
• Joshua Kimmich is going to face some questions when he gets back from his red card suspension. Bayern’s midfield looked better without him, and the youngster — Pavlovic — had a fine performance after coming on, assisting Kane as well. This may be the game that causes people to rethink Kimmich’s entire role in the team.
• After a spell out with injury, both Leon Goretzka and Dayot Upamecano had sublime comeback performances. Great games from both of them.
• Manuel Neuer has still got it — the scoreline would be far less lopsided if not for his saves against BVB attackers. We’ve missed him so badly.
• Borussia Dortmund need to go back to the drawing board. For a team that is financially and fanbase-wise the 2nd biggest in Germany, their recent seasons have been nothing but failure and excuses. If the likes of Lille and Leicester can win titles against financially superior opponents, why can’t BVB at least make Der Klassiker competitive?

Want more analysis? Check out our Postgame Show on Spotify or below:

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Full time: Bayern Munich win 4-0.

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90’ + 2’ — GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Harry Kane with the hat trick!

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72’ — GOOOOOOOOOAL! No offside this time! Harry Kane makes it 3-0 thanks to an assist from Kingsley Coman.

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70’ — Harry Kane lays it off for Jamal Musiala who finishes it, but Kane was offside in the initial play. Still 2-0.

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59’ — Sub: Pavlovic on for Upamecano, Goretzka drops to defense.

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45’ — The second half is underway!

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Halftime: One single observation. Thomas Tuchel is COOKING Dortmund. Bayern Munich are 2-0 up.

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8’ — GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Harry Kane makes it 2-0!

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3’ — GOOOOOOOOOOAL! Dayot Upamecano heads home from a corner!

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Kickoff: We’re underway!

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One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! Looks like Noussair Mazraoui, Dayot Upamecano, and Leon Goretzka will all start for Bayern Munich today. No space for Thomas Müller yet again, his old brittle bones weren’t up for this one.

With this XI, Thomas Tuchel has pretty much all his starters available except for Joshua Kimmich. Now there are no excuses.

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Ah yes, Der Klassiker. It’s not a bad marketing name. Borussia Dortmund tend to see this as one of their biggest games of the year. They will be ready.

Meanwhile, as far as Bayern Munich are concerned, this is a must-win game. You don’t go and lose, or even draw, to your league rivals after just losing the cup to a 3rd division team. Thomas Tuchel is in charge of a wounded beast, but it’s not helpless. With players like Harry Kane and Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Thomas Müller, Alphonso Davies and Manuel Neuer — Bayern Munich should be able to beat any team in the world. Then again, Saarbrücken must’ve thought that too.

It’s Bayern time.

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While you’re waiting for the game, why not check out our Weekend Warm-up podcast! Listen to it below or on Spotify.

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Match Info

Location: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Time: 6:30 pm local time, 12:30 pm EST

TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country

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