As far as football fixtures go, they don't come much bigger than Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund.
The two German giants have dominated the domestic Bundesliga for the past two decades with their match-ups often deciding the title race during that campaign.
A game that always draws a massive and vocal crowd, Der Klassiker, as it's become known, is not to be missed as fireworks are certain on and off the pitch.
The Sporting News takes a look at the history and significance of the famous fixture.
What does Der Klassiker mean?
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund has become known as 'Der Klassiker' in recent times.
The German term translates to 'The Classic' in English and is a reference to the iconic nature of the fixture.
Games between these two sides rarely fail to deliver drama and often see the winner lift silverware come season's end.
It's time to make a statement 🤜💥🤛
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) March 25, 2023
It's time to get real 💯
It's time to reach for the trophy 🏆#DerKlassiker | #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/tQo3gThBJk
Why are Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund rivals?
Unlike a number of other football rivalries, Der Klassiker isn't about two local clubs going at it with a rivalry fueled by geographic proximity.
Bayern are located in Germany's south, while Dortmund are located in the northwest of the country.
These two teams have been playing each other since 1965, but it wasn't until the 1990s that the fixture started becoming a true rivalry.
This was when Dortmund won their first Bundesliga title and proved they could stop some of Bayern's domestic dominance.
From that moment, matches between the two clubs often contained heated moments with Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn involved in a number of dramatic incidents in the late 1990s.
The fixture reached new heights in 2013 when the pair faced off in the UEFA Champions League final which Bayern won 2-1.
Player transfers have also increased bitterness between these clubs with Bayern often poaching Dortmund's best talents with devastating effect. Robert Lewandowki's move to Munich in 2014 as a free agent is just one example of this trend that stoked the flames between the two.
Klopp 👓
— GOAL (@goal) March 6, 2021
Lewandowski ⚽️
Robben 🪄
Gotze 🎩
Neuer 🧤
What is your favourite ever Der Klassiker moment? 🔴🟡 pic.twitter.com/JyTglOH4EV
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund H2H history
Historically, Bayern Munich have dominated this fixture and haven't lost against Dortmund in the Bundesliga since 2018.
In the DFB Supercup and Champions League, this match has proven much more even.
| Competition | Games | Bayern wins | Dortmund wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga | 110 | 54 | 26 | 30 |
| DFB-Pokal | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| DFB-Supercup | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| UEFA Champions League | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
*All stats accurate as of March 30, 2023.
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund recent results
| Competition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga | Mar. 30, 2024 | Bayern 0-2 Dortmund |
| Bundesliga | Nov. 4, 2023 | Dortmund 0-4 Bayern |
| Bundesliga | Apr. 1, 2023 | Bayern 4-2 Dortmund |
| Bundesliga | Oct. 8, 2022 | Dortmund 2-2 Bayern |
| Bundesliga | Apr. 23, 2022 | Bayern 3-1 Dortmund |
| Bundesliga | Dec. 4, 2021 | Dortmund 2-3 Bayern |
| DFB Supercup | Aug. 17, 2021 | Dortmund 1-3 Bayern |
| Bundesliga | Mar. 6, 2021 | Bayern 4-2 Dortmund |
| Bundesliga | Nov. 7, 2020 | Dortmund 2-3 Bayern |
| DFB Supercup | Sep. 30, 2020 | Bayern 3-2 Dortmund |
| Bundesliga | May 26, 2020 | Dortmund 0-1 Bayern |
| Bundesliga | Nov. 9, 2019 | Bayern 4-0 Dortmund |
| DFB Supercup | Aug. 3, 2019 | Dortmund 2-0 Bayern |