Klassiker rivals meet with unbeaten runs on the line
The top two in the Bundesliga are going head-to-head in the 138th Klassiker on Sunday, with both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund determined to protect their stellar starts to the Bundesliga season.
Reigning champion Bayern has got its title defence off to a perfect start, winning all six of its matches – a run that stretches to 10 if you include all competitions.
Meanwhile, Dortmund sits just four points behind the early pacesetter and is the only other unbeaten team left in the Bundesliga, having won four and drawn two of its matches.
One record is set to come to an end this weekend, but with Bayern (15 games) and Dortmund (14) on the two longest unbeaten streaks in Europe's big five leagues, who will blink first?
Both teams also boast the sternest defences in the competition, but with Harry Kane in fine form and Serhou Guirassy passed fit for the match, a goal-fest is expected.
But which of the fierce rivals will come out of the weekend with the bragging rights?
What's expected?
Given the impressive starts by Bayern and Dortmund, both sides will be keen to continue their respective streaks, but one will have to give in on.
This is the most-played Bundesliga fixture in German professional football, and Dortmund have won 33 of the previous 137 meetings between the sides.
Against no other opponent have Bayern suffered more defeats, and they are currently on a three-game winless run against Dortmund (D2 L1). It is their longest such streak since a five-match run between 2010 and 2012.
Prior to that run, which saw them draw both meetings last season, Bayern was unbeaten in 10 matches against Dortmund (W9 D1).
Dortmund has won its last two Bundesliga away games against the reigning champion, triumphing 2-0 at Bayern in March 2024 and 4-2 at Bayer Leverkusen in May 2025.
Should it come away from Munich with all three points this weekend, it will equal a league record of three consecutive wins against the title-holders, previously set by BVB (2009-2014) and FC Koln (1968-1969).
Can Kane keep pushing Bayern on?
Bayern has looked unstoppable this season, but even at this early stage, it knows dropping any points could prove costly, especially with Dortmund looking to close the gap.
It is the first time that Bayern has won its first six Bundesliga matches of a season since 2015-2016, and its opening 10 competitive matches since its promotion to the top-flight in 1965.
Now it has the chance to equal a Dortmund record. The Black and Yellow (in 2015-2016 under Thomas Tuchel) are the only German top-flight side to have won their first 11 competitive matches of a season.
Bayern has won each of its last eight league matches, its longest streak since 2020 when Hansi Flick led it to 14 consecutive wins.
Kompany's side looks in good shape to extend that. It has netted 25 goals already – the highest tally ever recorded at this stage of a Bundesliga season – and has scored at least three times in each of its last seven league outings.
Kane has led the line in style, making a stellar start to 2025-2026. He has already scored 11 goals, including two hat-tricks, setting a new record for a player across six matchdays.
If he does hit the net against Dortmund, he will equal his personal scoring streak record in club football (seven, also between October – November 2023 for Bayern).
He has faced Dortmund four times since moving to Bayern, but has drawn a blank in three of those games. In the other, however, he netted a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory back in November 2023.
Bayern's defence have also played its part in the club's 100 percent start, though, only conceding three goals, fewer than any other side. It has also kept five consecutive clean sheets, and a sixth would equal a club record set in 1998-1999.
A shutout is exactly what Manuel Neuer will be craving ahead of a potential landmark victory.
The goalkeeper recently celebrated his 362nd win in his 529th Bundesliga game, equalling Thomas Muller's record for the most wins for a player in the competition. Should Bayern triumph on Saturday, he would secure the sole record.
Kovac has Dortmund flying high
Dortmund will be keen not to let that happen, though, as it looks to continue its impressive resurgence under Kovac.
The Croat has breathed new life into Dortmund since taking over at the helm earlier this year, and after muscling them from mid-table to a Champions League place by the end of 2024-2025, he looks to have made the Black and Yellow title contenders.
Dortmund has only lost four of its 20 matches under Kovac in the Bundesliga, averaging 2.1 points per game under him. In fact, his 65 percent win rate is the best of any manager to take charge of more than one game.
Guirassy, who has been passed fit by Kovac for this match after an injury scare over the international break, could prove to be pivotal.
Only Kylian Mbappe (44) and Kane (39) have scored more goals than Guirassy (32) in 2025 across Europe's top five leagues this season.
He has been responsible for a third of Dortmund's Bundesliga goals this season (4/12), with Karim Adeyemi (two) the only other player to score more than once, a figure that will need to improve even if the Guinea international is in the side.
Guirassy has not scored in the league since a 2-0 win over Heidenheim (three games), which was his eighth consecutive Bundesliga game in which he had found the back of the net.
Dortmund has had eight different goalscorers, with only Augsburg (10) spreading the goals among more players, but Dortmund has, at times, proved shy in front of goal.
The Black and Yellow have had just 73 shots in six games so far, with only five teams managing fewer. They have a clinical edge that could trouble Bayern, though, as they have a 16.4 percent shot conversion rate and have hit the target with 32 of their efforts.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Bayern Munich – Luis Diaz
Luis Diaz has been directly involved in nine goals in his first six Bundesliga appearances (five goals, four assists).
Only teammate Harry Kane (11) has registered more direct goal involvements in his first six games for the club in the competition since detailed data collection began in 2004-2005 (Erling Haaland also nine).
In the Bundesliga this season, only Michael Olise (22) has had more shots than Diaz (21, level with Kane).
Borussia Dortmund – Julian Brandt
In Dortmund's last away game against Mainz, Julian Brandt recorded at least two assists in a Bundesliga match for the tenth time.
It is a feat only bettered by Muller (22) and Franck Ribery (15) since detailed data collection began in 2004-2005.
Despite playing just 258 minutes this term, Brandt has created five chances.
