Bayern Munich 4-0 Borussia Dortmund
In the Bundesliga, these games are the biggest in town – clashes which do not need any introduction.
The first Der Klassiker of the 2019-20 season was as eagerly anticipated as always with Bundesliga 2019 highlights galore expected.
Yet as well as not needing an introduction, the outcome of this game has also become largely predictable of late.
For there is one statistic this SBOBET writer has noticed– Bayern Munich just love playing their arch-rivals at home!
Highlights of the game
Buoyed by a superb comeback in Europe in midweek, some felt this was the chance for Dortmund to unsettle the Bundesliga 2019 betting odds and gain some revenge for a 5-0 hammering last time they met.
However, it became clear early in the second half that this match was going largely the same way as in previous seasons. Bayern had won each of their last five Bundesliga home games against Dortmund, scoring at least four goals in four of those meetings.
There was already a blow with skipper Marco Reus – who has 10 goals and six assists in 25 competitive matches against Bayern – only deemed fit enough for the bench.
And after an even start, the moment that was almost inevitable arrived.
There were 17 minutes on the clock when former Dortmund favourite Robert Lewandowski caused yet more pain to his former club.
Unmarked in the box, he headed home a Benjamin Pavard cross for his 15th league goal of the campaign.
Amazingly, Dortmund left the prolific Polish frontman alone again within minutes, and it took a goal-line clearance from Mats Hummels to stop Kingsley Coman from converting his cross.
The loss of young talent Jadon Sancho before half-time further weakened the visitors, and only another vital interception from Hummels stopped Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry from teaming up before the break.
Two minutes after the restart, Thomas Muller squared the ball across goal and Gnabry finished with aplomb at the far post.
The introduction of Reus and the finally healthy Paco Alcacer on the hour would have been a real boon, but Bayern were in full control by then and never looked like relinquishing their advantage.
Lewandowski – who else – got in on the act again when a swift 1-2 with Muller and superb first touch saw him add his second and Bayern’s third.
A fabulous end to Bayern’s week, which could have been a nightmare following the sacking of coach Niko Kovac, was completed 10 minutes from time when the unfortunate Hummels diverted an Ivan Perisic cross past his own goalkeeper.
This is the fifth time in succession Bayern have scored four or more goals past Dortmund at the Allianz Arena, having previously won 5-0, 6-0, 4-1 and 5-1.
Bayern have now won six straight Bundesliga home matches against Dortmund in succession. The last time they achieved that was from 1977 to 1984 (eight successive home wins against BVB).
Quite a record, quite a team!
Key statistics
Lewandowski is the first player in Bundesliga history to score a goal on each of the first 11 matchdays of a season, bagging 16 in total. The record after Matchday 11 had previously been 15 from the legendary Gerd Müller in 1968/69.
Before kick-off, Thomas Muller was presented with a bouquet of flowers and giant gingerbread biscuit to commemorate his 500th appearance for the club.
He is also the first player since data collection began in 2004 to claim 100 assists (he has now 101) in the league.
Since the beginning of the 2015-16 season, Bayern have scored 24 home goals against Dortmund in the Bundesliga, more than against any other team.
The third goal in this match was the 2,500th goal Bayern have scored at home in the Bundesliga and, ironically, the 2,500th Dortmund have conceded in Bundesliga history.
While Dortmund haven’t won in Munich since April 2014 under Jurgen Klopp (3-0), they have still won more Bundesliga matches against Bayern at the Allianz Arena than any other club (three, same as Borussia Mönchengladbach).
What’s next?
Bayern travel to Fortuna Dusseldorf next (November 23), by which time they may have a full-time replacement for Kovac appointed (the speculation continues).
They then travel to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League; they have qualified for the last 16 with a 100 per cent record in Group B.
Next up for Dortmund is newly promoted Paderborn, who they entertain domestically on November 22 before a vital Champions League tie at Barcelona five days later.
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