Key events
36 min: Bayern refuse to lose the ball, passing it around the back as Dortmund chase away.
34 min: Malen’s cross is blocked and the ball flies comfortably into the hands of Neuer.
33 min: Upamecano has been pristine at the back so far, having initially been an injury doubt for this.
32 min: Kane hits the post! But he was offside anyway. It was a lovely first-time pass from Musiala into the striker, and it was a tight call.
30 min: Sané is offside after Min-jae zips a ball into him on the left.
28 min: Upamecano heads away from danger twice before Sané switches the play from left to Coman on the right.
26 min: Wolf crosses into the box from the right and the ball is headed down for Reus to get a shot away, but it’s an awkward chance and the ball sails over.
25 min: It’s too far out so they just pass it around, and Kane eventually tries a cross but it goes straight out for a goal-kick.
24 min: Sané pulls out his tricks and flicks as Bayern drive up the pitch and they’ve got a free-kick from about 35 yards (?) out.
23 min: Brandt has a shot from about 30 yards out, but sort of half-heartedly, and it goes over.
22 min: A yellow card for Sané who rather petulantly pulls down Reus.
21 min: Foul on Davies in his own half, and Min-jae pumps the ball long.
19 min: Mazraoui intercepts the ball on the right to shutdown Dortmund’s attack.
18 min: Kane drops deep into his own half to play a long diagonal ball to Coman. That’s just showing off.
16 min: Sané is offside as Musiala, pulling all the strings, plays a through ball into the box.
15 min: Coman drives through the centre but can’t play the perfect ball to Musiala on his right, who is offside.
14 min: Dortmund have plenty of numbers going forward, but Bayern look well-positioned to pick them off on the counter.
12 min: Ryerson cuts in from the left to try and curl one into the top corner from outside the box – but the ball flies high and wide.
GOAL! Dortmund 0-2 Bayern (Kane 9)
Oh my. Bayern are all over them. Musiala counters and plays in Sané on the left, who works a lovely first-time ball across the box and, yes, Harry’s there for his 15th goal of the season.
8 min: Reus nicks the ball off Davies, but the left-back recovers well to snuff out the danger.
6 min: Bayern have the early goal and they’re dominating possession too, knocking it about with ease. Musiala plays in Coman, who launches over the bar from the edge of the box.
GOAL! Dortmund 0-1 Bayern (Upamecano 4)
Bayern strike! Upamecano loses his marker and finds himself with a free header inside the six-yard box – he finishes with ease.
3 min: Musiala’s cross is blocked and Bayern have a corner.
2 min: Bayern move from left to right after Davies attacks down the wing, and begin passing it about at the back.
Let’s play!
Dortmund in black and yellow, Bayern in red and white. Harry Kane kicks off!
Yellow flags waving, You’ll Never Walk Alone being belted out – we’re not far away from kick-off. Get yourself a cup of tea quick.
So it’s a big day for Marco Reus, who has hung around at Dortmund for yonks.
So last weekend was about Jude Bellingham when it comes to Englishmen abroad. Boy, was he special, scoring a brace to win the clásico, the first of those an outrageous thumper from range. Now it’s time to see what Harry Kane’s got up his sleeve.
John Brewin’s on clockwatch duty if you want to have a quick look at the 3pm kickoffs.
Here’s Jonathan Liew’s excellent preview:
The teams
So Upamecano and Goretzka, who were injury concerns for Bayern, are in the XI. Here’s how it’s looking:
Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Schlotterbeck, Hummels, Wolf, Özcan, Sabitzer, Reus, Brandt, Malen, Füllkrug
Subs: Meyer, Bensebaini, Reyna, Nmecha, Haller, Moukoko, Süle, Adeyemi, Bynoe-Gittens
Bayern: Neuer, Mazraoui, Upamecano, Min-jae, Davies, Goretzka, Laimer, Sané, Coman, Musiala, Kane
Subs: Ulreich, Gnabry, Choupo-Moting, Sarr, Müller, Tel, Krätzig, Pavlović
The teams are in:
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to coverage of the big one in Germany: Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park.
The eyes are on Harry Kane, who seems to be loving life at his new club. Thirteen games have resulted in 14 goals, including his best Becks impression in an 8-0 drubbing last weekend. Bayern remain unbeaten in the league, have a 100% record in the Champions League and Kane’s at the helm for their run at a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title. Oh, and they haven’t lost to these since 2019.
But – yes, there’s a but – Dortmund are very much in this. They too are unbeaten after nine league games, and they’ll be buoyed by the upset Bayern suffered in the week, a 2-1 loss to third-division Saarbrücken in the German Cup. Then there are the names Bayern are missing: Joshua Kimmich is suspended, Matthijs de Ligt is definitely out with injury, and there are concerns over Dayot Upamecano and Leon Goetzka, too. Basically, we’re on for a classic (don’t hold me to that).
I’ll be here with you all the way, with kick-off at 5.30pm GMT. Drop me a line with your thoughts, queries, whatever, whenever. Cheers!
