Iconic Der Klassiker Encounters Throughout History

Der Klassiker is the name given to the match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. These 2 teams have had a fierce rivalry in the Bundesliga. The Der Klassiker has produced many memorable matches over the years and today we go through some of the best Der Klassiker matches to ever take place.

1. Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Bayern Munich (2018/19)

This Der Klassiker showdown was filled with drama throughout the game. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Bayern Munich. In the 26^th minute, Lewandowski managed to get at the end of a cross and head the ball in to give Bayern a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the 1^st half was dominated by Bayern but they could not score more. The score remained 1-0 at half time. Borussia Dortmund started the second half well. In the 49^th minute, Marco Reus managed to get past Manuel Neuer. In trying to stop Reus, Neuer fouled him and gave away a penalty.

Reus stepped up to take the penalty and scored to level the score. Dortmund, however, seemed to crumble almost immediately after scoring. Just minutes later they found themselves conceding again. In the 52^nd minute, Lewandowski managed to head the ball in at the back post to finish off a very good team goal by Bayern. This put Bayern in the lead once more. After going down again, Dortmund fought back even harder. Sancho managed to cross the ball to Reus in the penalty area. Reus got the shot off and beat the keeper but it was cleared off the line.

Dortmund got another very good goal scoring opportunity, this time for Paco Alcacer, but failed to score again. Just when it looked like Dortmund were going to regret missing these chances, Reus got another opportunity to equalise and this time he did not miss. Reus got on the end of a cross by Lukasz Piszczek and scored with an exquisite finish. This made the score Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bayern Munich.

In the 73^rd minute, another opportunity presented itself for Borussia Dortmund. A well worked counter by Dortmund saw Alcacer get through on Bayern’s goal. Alcacer managed to finish the chance, putting Dortmund in the lead and sending the home fans into a frenzy.

In the dying moments of the game Bayern Munich got one final chance. In the 94^th minute of the game, Kimmich put a through ball for Lewandowski who managed to score with a backheel flick. Lewandowski’s hattrick celebrations were however cut short by an offside flag. Bayern thought they had made the score 3-3 but Lewandowski was deemed to be offside and Dortmund won the game 3-2.

2. Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Bayern Munich (2019/20)

Borussia Dortmund started this game on the front foot. They attacked Bayern right from the start of the game. Dortmund almost got their reward when Erling Haaland managed to get the ball through Neuer’s legs but the ball was cleared off the line. Dortmund did manage to score in the 10^th minute of the game but the goal was ruled offside. In the 19^th minute, Bayern managed to break through but this time it was Dortmund who made a goal line clearance.

In the 43^rd minute, Kimmich attempted an audacious chip to try and score and managed to do so. Roman Burki was caught off his line by the German international. Burki pedalled back and managed to get a hand on the ball but could not keep the ball out of his net. The game went to half time with the score 1-0 to Bayern. Haaland got a very good chance to equalize in the 58^th minute but his shot was blocked off by Jerome Boateng.

The block was controversial as Boateng appeared to use a part of his arm to block the shot but no penalty was awarded. Dortmund kept attacking the Bayern goal relentlessly but could not find a way through. The game ended 1-0 in the favour of Bayern Munich.

3. Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Bayern Munich (2011/12)

Borussia Dortmund started this game in an unbelievable fashion. Dortmund started the game by going all out attack. They nearly scored twice in the opening 6 minutes. Jakub Blaszczykowski nearly opened the scoring in the 2^nd minute of the game. His shot went just wide of the post, In the 6^th minute, Kevin Großkreutz managed to get at the end of a cross but his close-range effort was spectacularly saved by Manuel Neuer.

In the 25^th minute, Shinji Kagawa went on a spectacular solo run and managed to geta shot off but his effort was saved by Neuer. In the 37^th minute, Lewandowski got at the end of a cross by Blaszczykowski to head the ball towards the goal but the post denied Dortmund from getting their opening goal. Despite having so many chances in the first half, Dortmund were unable to capitalise and the score stood at 0-0 at halftime. Bayern came out in the second half looking much better. Now it was Dortmund’s chance to defend. Bayern launched attack after attack on Dortmund’s goal but were unable to break through as well.

In the 77^th minute, Dortmund managed to get a corner. Dortmund opted for the short corner routine and the ball crossed into the box was cleared but only as far as Großkreutz. Großkreutz took a shot from outside the penalty area and Lewandowski managed to get a touch on it, guiding it past Manuel Neuer. This gave Dortmund a 1-0 lead in this action-packed game. In the 85^th minute, Arjen Robben managed to touch the ball past Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller but was taken out by the keeper. The referee awarded a penalty to Bayern for this foul by Weidenfeller. Arjen Robben stepped up to take the penalty. He went to the keeper’s left but Weidenfeller read this and dived the correct way, saving the penalty.

In the 91^st minute, Subotic tried to deal with a cross inside his penalty area but almost scored an own goal. His header sent the ball to Dortmund’s crossbar, almost undoing all the hard work done by Dortmund. In the 92^nd minute it was Bayern’s crossbar which was hit. Lewandowski managed to get through on goal and tried to chip Neuer but saw his effort hit the crossbar. Lewandowski, however, did not need to worry too much about missing this chance as the time for the game was up. Dortmund beat Bayern 1-0 in one of the craziest Der Klassiker games ever.

4. Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (2012/13)

The 2012/13 Der Klassiker is probably one of the biggest Der Klassiker showdowns to ever take place, This Der Klassiker was set in the Champions League Final. The Bundesliga rivals both made it to the Champions League Final in 2012/13. Dortmund started the game on the front foot, attacking Bayern Munich’s goal. In the 14^th minute the ball fell to Jakub Blaszczykowski in Bayern’s penalty area. Blaszczykowski got good connection on the ball and must have thought he had scored but a brilliant save by Manuel Neuer kept the score 0-0.

In the 19^th minute Marco Reus was presented with an opportunity but his shot was easily dealt with by Neuer. Bayern got their first big opportunity in the 26^th minute of the game. Mario Mandzukic managed to get at the end of the cross and headed the ball towards the goal. Roman Weidenfeller denied him with an outstanding save. In the 30^th minute, Arjen Robben managed to get through on goal but squandered a very good opportunity to give Bayern the lead. Weidenfeller saved Robben’s shot to keep it level. In the 35^th minute it was Dortmund’s Lewandowski who managed to break free.

Lewandowski had a great opportunity to put Dortmund in the lead but his shot went straight to Neuer. In the dying stages of the first half, Weidenfeller was called into action once again. Robben managed to get free in the penalty area and take a shot but his shot hit Weidenfeller square in the face. Despite there being so many chances for both sides, the score remained 0-0 at halftime. Bayern started the second half strong. In the 58^th minute Mandzukic got a free header but was unable to guide the ball past Weidenfeller. In the 60^th minute Mandzukic managed to get the first goal of the game.

Robben managed to cut the keeper and put the ball in the box. Mandzukic tapped the ball into Dortmund’s net to make it 1-0 to Bayern. Dortmund, however, were handed a way back into the game almost immediately. In the 67^th minute Dante was deemed to have fouled Reus and a penalty was awarded to Dortmund. Ilkay Gundogan stepped up to take the penalty and managed to score to level the score again. In the 72^nd minute Bayern Munich got a very good chance. Muller managed to cut the keeper and shoot.

Arjen Robben was chasing down the ball as well to make sure it goes in but Neven Subotic managed to make a goal line clearance to prevent Bayern from scoring. In the 76^th minute Alaba forced Weidenfeller to make yet another spectacular save from a long-range effort. Bastian Schweinsteiger saw his effort in the 87th minute get saved by Weidenfeller. In the 89^th minute, Dortmund made a mess at the back, allowing Robben to break free once again and this time he did not miss.

Robben managed to slot the ball into the bottom corner past Weidenfeller to give Bayern the lead in the dying moments of the game. This last-minute winner broke Dortmund fan’s hearts all around the world and Bayern Munich went on to win the game 2-1 to lift the Champions League trophy.

5. Borussia Dortmund 5-2 Bayern Munich (2011/12)

This Der Klassiker matchup took place in the 2011/12 DFB Pokal Final. A defensive error by Bayern Munich saw Blaszczykowski break free. He was able to cross the ball and find Shinji Kagawa who managed to score, giving Dortmund the lead in the 3^rd minute of the game. Mario Gomez managed to get behind Dortmund’s defence in the 8^th minute of the game but his effort was saved by Roman Weidenfeller.

Mario Gomez managed to break free once again and this time Weidenfeller was a little late to react. He brought Gomez down in the penalty area and a penalty was awarded to Bayern. Robben put away the penalty to level the scores. Phillip Lahm got a very good opportunity in the 33^rd minute but his effort was blocked. In the 40^th minute, Boateng fouled Reus inside the penalty area and a penalty was given to Dortmund. Mats Hummels stepped up to take the penalty. He decided to go to the keepers left and Neuer guessed correctly. He managed to get a hand to the ball but that was not enough to keep it out and Dortmund took the lead.

In the dying moments of the first half, Kagawa managed to find Lewandowski. Lewandowski scored to make it 3-1 to Dortmund going into the break. Lewandowski found himself free in Bayern’s penalty area in the 58th minute. He scored his 2^nd goal of the day to extend Dortmund’s lead even further. In the 68^th minute Mario Gomez managed to get his head onto Ribery’s cross but his header hit the crossbar. In the 75^th minute Ribery showcased his quick feet to get away from Dortmund defenders and curled the ball into the bottom corner making the score 4-2. This gave Bayern fans a glimmer of hope.

This hope, however, was put to bed in the 81^st minute. Neuer spilled the ball and the cross found its way to Lewandowski’s head who scored to compete his hattrick. Dortmund won the game 5-2 and won the DFB Pokal trophy.

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