Borussia Dortmund head to Munich tomorrow on a five-game winning streak against the Bavarians in league and cup matches, but coach Jurgen Klopp has admitted that the situation is different now.

Two doubles in the past two Bundesliga seasons and victory in the final of the DFB-Pokal in May have given Dortmund the upper hand in recent years, but a lot has changed since that cup final six months ago.

``They are more hungry, more determined,'' said Klopp. ``They always had the quality, in fact this season they have a bit more.

``Bayern Munich are the toughest opponents you can have in the Bundesliga so it's not just a big challenge, but a difficult one.

``Bayern are favourites. They have a home game, they are 11 points ahead of us, but it's our duty to go there and to ensure that it will not be so easy for them.

``Of course we can be uncomfortable for them.''

Bayern have a 10-point lead over nearest challengers Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga, while champions Dortmund are in third after only managing a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Fortuna Dusseldorf last time out.

``We have missed the chance to move four points clear of Eintracht Frankfurt and Schalke and they can overtake us if we lose in Munich,'' said former Bayern defender Mats Hummels.

``Therefore, it's important that we pick up points in Munich.''

The biggest Bundesliga game of the season so far will be shown live in 203 countries and Bayern captain Philipp Lahm is raring to go.

``It is the biggest game in the Bundesliga,'' he told Munich's Tz newspaper.

``Recent years have shown that and the games in the Champions League this year have proven it.

``Dortmund played a great group stage and, like us, they are already in the knockout stage, so that certainly makes it a top match.''

Revenge for losing four league games in a row to their rivals is less of a concern for Lahm, though.

``The worst thing I have in my mind is that we did not win the league for two years in a row,'' he said.

``That is extraordinary for Bayern.''


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/346269/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

The German Classico

[size=14pt]A record 203 countries around the world will be broadcasting it live through one or other of the DFL's partner companies. bundesliga.com asked leading football analysts from Europe to Japan for an insight into the significance this match, and the Bundesliga in general, in other corners of football's global community..[/size]

[size=18pt]Raphael Honigstein (German/English football correspondent for ITV, the Guardian, ESPN and others) - @honigstein[/size]


"It’s fair to say that the Bundesliga’s profile in the UK has never been higher. Regular live broadcasts on ESPN, blogs in the Guardian and Independent, and strong showings from German teams in this year’s Champions League testify to German football’s increasing popularity. Hardly a day goes by without one of the Bundesliga’s stars being linked to various Premier League clubs.

Britain has woken up to the league’s potential, on and off the pitch. The Observer’s David Conn visited Dortmund ahead of the game to look at the Bundesliga’s ownership model this week and London pubs such as the 'Bavarian Beerhouse' on Old Street expect capacity crowds for screenings of the "German clasico" on Saturday night."

[size=18pt]Graham Hunter (Spain-based analyst for Sky, UEFA, ESPN and others) - @bumpergraham[/size]

"I well recall sitting down to interview (Real Madrid and Spain keeper) Iker Casillas just ahead of the World Cup semi final in 2010. He´s bright, articulate and a student of the game. 'Germany are building a group of players to dominate football for a generation' he told me, admiringly.
His point of view represents the resurgent respect which the Bundesliga and the Mannschaft have earned here in Spain. Coherent youth development, patently clear at both Dortmund and even a Bayern currently spending more in transfer fees than ever before, full stadia because of sensible ticket pricing, respect for the fan base, a well-run league and technically adept players; the Spanish footballing public understands and likes what's happening right now in Germany. Bayern v Dortmund will command an audience in Spain on Saturday, irrespective of the Madrid derby and Barça v Athletic. And a respectful audience at that."

[size=18pt]Andy Brassell, UK (European football expert) – BBC, UEFA, ESPN Soccernet, The Independent -@andybrassell[/size]

"The English are often accused of being a little insular when it comes to football - and often with good reason - but there is widespread interest here in the meetings between Bayern and Dortmund.

It was BVB's February 2011 win at the Allianz, televised live here, that really caught the imagination, with the boldness of Jürgen Klopp's side impressing. Their stellar performance at the City of Manchester Stadium this autumn, where they outclassed the Premier League champions, got tongues wagging again. Frankly, Dortmund have changed the image of the Bundesliga here from 'Bayern plus 17' to something containing a titanic rivalry which, let's face it, we all love."

[size=18pt]Hidehiko Shimizu (Co-commentator on FUJI-TV, columnist for top broadsheet NIKKEI)[/size]

"The game kicks off at 2:30 in the morning here in Japan, but there will be plenty of Japanese football fans watching it nonetheless. I'm looking forward tremendously to this heavyweight clash myself, and one of the most intriguing questions is whether Bayern can deliver the goods this time after a string of defeats, culminating in the DFB Cup final in May. Dortmund can accordingly take to the pitch with confidence in Munich and the overriding challenge for Bayern is how to counter the dynamic pressing game that is BVB's trademark. From a Japanese point of view, it is interesting to see how Dortmund are adapting to the departure of Shinji Kagawa. Marco Reus is obviously a different type of player, but given that the team have otherwise remained largely unchanged from last season, they're functioning pretty well already, as they demonstrated recently in Amsterdam. But I still think we are in for another form explosion from Borussia after the winter break!"

[size=18pt]Maciej Szmigielski, editor of Polish sports dailyPrzeglad Sportowy[/size]


"What happens in the Polish league this weekend is almost irrelevant. Nobody is interested in who's playing who in Spain, England or Italy. On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people will settle down to watch the game between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund – or Polonia Dortmund, as they are often referred to here. There has been huge coverage in the run-up. Poland's biggest and longest-established sports newspaperPrzeglad Sportowy, for example, has prepared a double-page spread preview of Bayern against Dortmund. Ten percent of the entire paper devoted to a single game! But in Poland, this is a special event. The combination of BVB having three top Polish internationals on the books and the team's incredible success over the past couple of years has led to a real boom in the number of people following the Bundesliga here. And on Saturday, Bayern be up against not just Borussia Dortmund, but a few million Poles as well."

[size=18pt]Projected lineup[/size]

[img]http://bilder.sportsandbytes.de/bvb/2012_2013/Schema_Muenchen_1354204487.gif[/img]

Last season match was very energetic and ecstatic and god punish kagawa for giving gotze that through pass that he used to score . I hope that my super mario will play this match .

dortmund[b]bayern[/b]

[b]bayern[/b]bayern

But i dey fear that boy gotze . Damn boy is wicked .

This match is really gonna be tough.Bayern is not gonna have it easy against a high spirited Dortmund team that has had a very good form recently.

Dortmund is winning this.

solomon111: Dortmund is winning this.

Are you sure seeing Bayern is the form team coming to this match

i see dortmund winning this. they have the best combo in gotze and reus. hummels and subotic dusts dante and badstuber anyday

Dortmund lineup

Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender, Gündogan - Kuba, Götze, Reus - Lewandowski

Damn!!!
No Gustavo...subs..

I don't like Martinez..

Kickoff

lets go Bayernnnn

Ribery is doing it.

Nice start Ribery

Freekick Bayern

Off target Ribery

Jesus!!! Neuer nearly killed me

Man UTD 0. reading 1

Crucial block by Subotic on Muller

kroos long ranger off target

Raking crossfield pass from Badstuber to lahm

Corner Bayern headed clear by Dortmund