Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund: Score, Grades and Reaction

Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund

Substitute Franck Ribery inspired Bayern Munich to come from behind to maintain their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.

Pep Guardiola's team were struggling to find a way back into the game after Marco Reus' 31st-minute opener, on a night when Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller was in excellent form and Bayern were struggling to hit the target.

However, once Ribery replaced the ineffective Mario Gotze, the momentum swung in favour of the home side as they ground down their opponents.

The France international provided the assist for Robert Lewandowski to equalise against his former club in the 72nd minute, before winning a penalty six minutes before the end which saw Arjen Robben slot home.

But Jurgen Klopp and his struggling team can take heart from a performance, which belied their lowly position in the table.

Some beautiful play, including a sweet backheel from Philipp Lahm, set up Robben for a great drive in the sixth minute, which Weidenfeller tipped over.

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Great save Weidenfeller to deny Robben http://t.co/Xx8ewnSl57

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) November 1, 2014"

But Dortmund almost opened the scoring themselves when Shinji Kagawa played in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose drive clipped the outside of Manuel Neuer's left-hand post.

Thomas Muller attempted to connect with a clever Jerome Boateng ball over the top, but his attempt on the stretch proved fruitless.

Mkhitaryan found himself the unwitting victim of a Weidenfeller clearance, when the Dortmund goalkeeper's clearance struck the back of his team-mate's head.

Weidenfeller did well in the 23rd minute when he got down low to parry a Robben strike after the Dutchman had cut on to his left foot before shooting.

On the half-hour mark, though, Dortmund took the lead. Kagawa laid the ball off to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the right and the forward chased down the right before sending over an inch-perfect cross for Reus to head home in a brilliant counter-attacking move.

Weidenfeller was again required to make a sharp block from Muller, who had broken free in the 37th minute after a great ball through from Robben.

Robben was denied by a tremendous Dortmund block moments later, but the Netherlands international should have taken his chance earlier rather than allowing Sven Bender to deflect away for a corner.

Dortmund were forced into a switch at the break, with Neven Subotic replacing Mats Hummels in defence. The Germany international must have been carrying an injury as his form had been good in the first 45 minutes.

Five minutes after the interval, Weidenfeller again proved to be the hero for the visitors when his stop prevented Lewandowski equalising after a great Benatia cross.

There was concern for both Subotic and Lukasz Piszczek after the pair inadvertently collided with each other as Weidenfeller collected a cross. But both players were able to continue.

Fears that this was not going to be Bayern's day were heightened in the 64th minute when Benatia sent a header wide from a Boateng cross.

Pep Guardiola withdrew Mario Gotze for Franck Ribery in the 69th minute as the chase for an equaliser heated up.

Klopp followed suit with Kagawa making way for Kevin Grosskreutz, but soon the momentum would be with Bayern.

Ribery set up the equaliser when his attempted through ball to Robben was cut out by Subotic, but the loose ball fell invitingly for Lewandowski, who fired home beyond Weidenfeller to make it 1-1.

Benatia needed to be composed in the 80th minute as Dortmund attacked on the counter, with Reus' cross looking to find Aubameyang.

Six minutes before the end, Ribery was again in the thick of the action. Subotic struck a clearance against the France international, who chased down the loose ball. The Dortmund defender brought down Ribery inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Robben provided the finishing touch to beat Weidenfeller.

Dortmund pressed forward in the hope of an equaliser but it was not to be, as Bayern registered their first home league win over the visitors since 2010.

Selected Player Ratings

Arjen Robben: A

Always looking for the opportunity for Bayern with his trademark cutting in from the right to bring the ball on to his left foot.

Roman Weidenfeller: A+

Produced some tremendous stops, notably an early Robben effort pushed on to the crossbar, to keep Dortmund in the game in the opening stages.

Franck Ribery: A

A game-changing introduction for the closing stages as the Frenchman gave Dortmund a different danger, which, ultimately, they could not cope with.

Sven Bender: A

Excellent display sitting in front of the Dortmund defence in protective role.

What's Ahead

Both clubs will now begin to look towards their midweek Champions League ties.

Bayern will play host to Roma on Wednesday, after defeating the Serie A club 7-1 in the Italian capital.

Dortmund are at home to Turkish club Galatasaray on Tuesday.

Post-Match Reaction

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FT #FCBayern 1-1 #BVB http://t.co/bYixvxurqD Robben penalty wins it for Guardiola's men after coming from behind pic.twitter.com/TLQnHTsoM4

— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) November 1, 2014"