Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Team News & Prediction

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The Bundesliga plays host to ‘Der Klassiker’ as Bayern Munich are out to make it six games unbeaten in all competitions against fierce title rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Kick-off date/time: 31 October 2026 at 5:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Sky Sports / USA – ESPN+

Bayern Munich preview: Still on top

Bayern Munich will once again have Aaron Danks in the dugout, with Vincent Kompany still recovering after collapsing at the training ground last week. The Bayern head coach has been discharged from hospital and will recuperate while his side look to take care of business against their fellow title contenders.

The Rekordmeister made a big statement last weekend, beating a strong Freiburg side by three goals to one in the Black Forest. Michael Olise was instrumental, chipping in with a goal and an assist as Bayern continued their impressive start to the campaign.

That victory took them to 17 points from seven games, with five wins and two draws. They sit above Dortmund on goal difference, having racked up by far the most goals of any team in the Bundesliga, and will be confident of adding to that tally.

Borussia Dortmund preview: Chance to make a statement

A positive result at the Allianz Arena would go a long way towards showing that Borussia Dortmund are genuine contenders for this year's Meisterschale.

Like their opponents, Niko Kovac's side have put 17 points on the board from seven league games, winning five and drawing two. They haven't always been totally convincing, but a solid defensive foundation, combined with a proven goalscorer in Serhou Guirassy alongside an underrated supporting cast, has been good enough so far.

Their most recent league success was a narrow 1-0 win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, and they've since advanced into the next round of the DFB-Pokal. Kovac's men came through a thrilling 3-2 battle with Werder Bremen midweek, with Marcel Sabitzer scoring the winner deep into second-half stoppage time.

Bayern Munich team news: Pavlovic fit to play

Bayern Munich have been afforded a big boost by Aleksandar Pavlovic’s return from injury off the bench in midweek and the central midfielder is in line to start in Der Klassiker. However, Luis Diaz remains out, while Manuel Neuer is not expected to be passed fit.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Brown; Pavlovic, Bischof; Olise, Saibari, Davies; Kane

Unavailable: Diaz (Injured), Ndiaye (Injured), Neuer (Injured)

Questionable: Kimmich (Personal), Musiala (Injured)

Borussia Dortmund team news: Creative hole

Karetsas and Konstantelias both being injured leaves Kovac with a gap to plug creativity within his attack and could lead to a start for Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri. The experienced Emre Can also misses out with his long-term knee problem.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Veerman, Nmecha, Svensson; Nwaneri, Guirassy, Beier

Unavailable: Can (Injured), Karetsas (Injured), Konstantelias (Injured), Lerma (Injured)

Questionable: Meyer (Illness)

Key stats

• First meets second: Bayern and Dortmund are both unbeaten on 17 points (W5 D2) coming into Matchweek 8, with Bayern top on goal difference (+19 to +8). 
• It is only the fourth season since 1995/96 in which both clubs have been unbeaten after seven Bundesliga games (also 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2023/24). 
• Bayern won all three previous Bundesliga meetings since 1995/96 played with both sides unbeaten after at least six league games that season: 5-1 at home in October 2015, 4-0 in Dortmund in November 2023 and 2-1 at home in October 2025. 
• Bayern lead the Bundesliga head-to-head since 1995/96 with 33 wins to Dortmund's 12 (D17) in 62 meetings, and are unbeaten in the last four (W2 D2). 
• Dortmund have won only once in their last ten Bundesliga visits to Bayern (D1 L8) – 2-0 on 30 March 2024 – and four times in 31 visits since 1995/96 (D7 L20). 
• Bayern's biggest home win in the fixture is 6-0 on 31 March 2018; Dortmund's biggest in Munich is 3-0 on 12 April 2014. 
• Bayern are unbeaten in 22 Bundesliga games (W17 D5) since a 1-2 home defeat to Augsburg on 24 January 2026, and have won all three home games this season 18-2 on aggregate. 
• Bayern's 25 goals is their third-highest total after seven games in 32 Bundesliga seasons since 1995/96 (27 in both 2020/21 and 2025/26), and they have scored in 40 consecutive Bundesliga home games since 13 April 2024. 
• Bayern are unbeaten in 30 Bundesliga away games (W22 D8) since a 1-2 defeat at Mainz on 14 December 2024 – three short of their longest away unbeaten run since 1995/96 (33, April 2012 to March 2014). 
• Dortmund have conceded only four goals – the fewest in the league and their joint third-lowest total after seven games since 1995/96 (two in 2017/18, three in 1999/00, also four in 2001/02) – and have kept five clean sheets, including the last two. 
• Dortmund are unbeaten in nine Bundesliga games (W7 D2) since a 0-1 defeat at Gladbach on 3 May 2026. 
• Dortmund's matches have averaged only 2.29 goals this season, compared with 4.43 in Bayern's. 

‘Key stats’ are Bundesliga only (not all competitions)

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund prediction

Although Borussia Dortmund’s backline has been hugely impressive this campaign, conceding just four league goals, they face a challenge here that has so often found them wanting in the past. Newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane will be desperate to mark his first appearance since winning the award last Monday with at least one goal, adding to the six Bundesliga goals he has already scored against Dortmund during his time at Bayern.

With Kane leading the line and Olise maintaining his sparkling form, Bayern’s incredible attack should finally overwhelm the Dortmund defence. Despite the hosts’ vulnerabilities at the back (no clean sheet in their last six matches in all competitions), you would expect Bayern’s firepower to outweigh Dortmund’s and lead them to another Klassiker victory.

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund tip: Bayern Munich to win and both teams to score