Der Klassiker arrives with one number that is hard to ignore: Bayern München are unbeaten in their last nine competitive trips to Borussia Dortmund, winning seven and drawing two. Add Robert Lewandowski's 24 Bundesliga goals in the fixture and Gregor Kobel's winless league record against Bayern, and the historical edge still sits firmly with the visitors, even with the top two level on 17 points after seven matches.

The records that still frame this game

Bayern's run in Dortmund is the cleanest place to start. Nine competitive away matches without defeat in this fixture is not just a decent streak, it is a reminder that this ground has not tilted the rivalry back in Dortmund's favour for a while.

That backdrop matters more because the table is close. Bayern are top of the Bundesliga and Dortmund are second, both on 17 points from seven games. Dortmund have also gone unbeaten in their last five league matches, so this is not a preview built on one side flying and the other stumbling.

Even so, the biggest individual numbers around Der Klassiker still belong to Lewandowski. He holds the Bundesliga record for most wins in the fixture with 18 from 24 games. He has also scored 24 Bundesliga goals in Der Klassiker, 23 for Bayern and one for Dortmund. Those totals still define the modern version of this rivalry because nobody else comes close in the source material here.

Bayern also bring current form that fits the pattern. They are unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga matches and have taken 11 points from their last five league games. Michael Olise has given them a fresh attacking punch too, with 6 goals and 3 assists in the Bundesliga, alongside a league rating of 8.1 when rounded to one decimal.

Dortmund's problem figures

Dortmund's awkward numbers are far more personal. Kobel has never been on the winning side against Bayern in the Bundesliga, across spells with Augsburg, Stuttgart and Dortmund. His overall league record against them is two draws and eight defeats.

His own Klassiker line is worse. Speaking via bundesliga.com, Kobel's record is set out clearly: "0 - Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has never been on the winning side against Bayern in the Bundesliga (eight defeats and two draws for Augsburg, VfB Stuttgart and Dortmund). His top-flight Klassiker record reads: D2, L5, 19 goals conceded."

Kobel's broader Bundesliga form this season has been solid enough at 6.9, but this fixture has consistently gone against him. When a goalkeeper has already conceded 19 goals in his top-flight Klassiker matches, that stops looking like a random quirk.

Niko Kovač carries his own baggage into the game. As quoted by bundesliga.com: "0 - Dortmund's Niko Kovač - who represented Bayern as a player and coach - is so far winless in his 11 Bundesliga meetings against the record champions as a head coach (D2, L9). However, he did overcome his then future employers as Eintracht Frankfurt boss in the 2017/18 DFB Cup final."

That cup final note keeps the story from becoming absolute, but only in a different competition. In Bundesliga terms, the numbers are still ugly for Dortmund's manager and goalkeeper alike.

A top-of-the-table game, but not a neutral history

The league table says this should be tight. Bayern are first, Dortmund are second, and both head into the match unbeaten across their last five Bundesliga games. Dortmund do not go in as outsiders because of current form.

But history has a clear lean here, and pretending otherwise would miss the point of the fixture's recent record. Bayern have the nine-match unbeaten run in Dortmund, the outstanding individual Klassiker record through Lewandowski, and a fresh attacker in Olise producing now as well as on paper.

Dortmund can point to the table and their own unbeaten league stretch. Bayern can point to nine straight competitive visits without losing in this stadium, and that remains the strongest number in the preview.

FAQ

Why do Bayern go into Der Klassiker with the historical edge?

Bayern arrive with the stronger recent record in Dortmund, going unbeaten in their last nine competitive trips there with seven wins and two draws. The rivalry's record book also still leans their way through Robert Lewandowski's Klassiker numbers and Gregor Kobel's winless Bundesliga record against them.

What is Robert Lewandowski's record in Der Klassiker?

Lewandowski holds the Bundesliga record for most wins in Der Klassiker, with 18 from 24 matches. He has also scored 24 Bundesliga goals in the fixture, including 23 for Bayern and one for Dortmund, which remains the standout individual scoring mark attached to this game.

Has Gregor Kobel ever beaten Bayern in the Bundesliga?

No. Kobel has never been on the winning side against Bayern in the Bundesliga. Across spells with Augsburg, VfB Stuttgart and Dortmund, his overall record is two draws and eight defeats. In top-flight Klassiker matches, his record stands at two draws, five defeats and 19 goals conceded.

Are Bayern or Dortmund top of the Bundesliga before Der Klassiker?

Bayern sit first in the Bundesliga with 17 points from seven matches, while Dortmund are second on the same points tally. That keeps the table tight, but the historical numbers around this fixture still give Bayern the stronger backdrop going into the meeting.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →