Franck Ribery Turns Klassiker for Bayern but Dortmund Take Heart Despite Defeat

The bookmakers were in truth the real winners of this weekend's German football action when last season's Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, came from behind to win the first Der Klassiker of the league campaign against Borussia Dortmund. 

Pep Guardiola's side were seen as heavy favourites ahead of the tie, considering their dominant lead in the league table and Dortmund's own poor run this season, yet in truth the game was far closer between the two old rivals. 

Despite strong performances in domestic competitions and the Champions League, Dortmund offered a stubborn response to what has been, largely, a rather one-sided affair for Bayern fans this season. The Bavarian club have ticked all of the boxes so far but had still to come up against a top team that made them uncomfortable. 

Oddly enough, this came against the Black and Yellows—a team that have won just two games in the Bundesliga this season and fallen to such opponents as Hamburg and Hannover of late—who were notably stronger when the onus to win was passed on to their opponents. 

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

As we've seen from Klopp's side this year in Europe's premier competition, Dortmund certainly look more at home when they are allowed to sit back and hit teams on the break. There they can thrive on a simpler, more reactionary kind of football which in turn allows players such as Marco Reus and Shinji Kagawa to play their natural game. 

It was this form of football that allowed Dortmund to strike first against their Munich rivals, when pacey forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found time and space on the right flank to cross a ball in to the aforementioned German forward to head home. 

The goal was significant not only in its immediate consequences to the game that was unfolding at the time, but in the manner that Bayern were exposed throughout the play. 

Eagle-eyed fans of the Reds will note that it was midfielder Xabi Alonso that had been tasked with tracking and closing down the Dortmund player, in David Alaba's wake. This was due to the Austrian left-back doing what he has done so well this season—bombing forward with the ball from his own defensive line—but as we saw so well, such a tactic came undone against a stronger side such as Klopp's team. 

Guardiola's side were of course masters of the ball and held onto possessions throughout the game, but in truth, Dortmund had done exactly what they came to the Allianz Arena to do that night; they made Bayern bleed.

It wasn't until we saw the introduction of Franck Ribery—the play-maker and regular hero of the Bavarian side in place of his natural heir, Mario Gotze—that Bayern were able to overcome the problem that Klopp posed and leave the night's battle with all three points.

Where Arjen Robben had dribbled, twisted and shot in vain against the surprising form of Roman Weidenfeller, the French attacking midfielder brought with him a sense of purpose and ultimately the magic touch that turned the game in his side's favour.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

It was Ribery's pass—or at least his intent and touch—which moved the ball into Robert Lewandowski's presence and allowed the former Dortmund striker the time and space to put the ball into the back of the net for the first time that night.

Similarly, the former French international was at the top of his game when he pounced on a loose ball and got the better of Neven Subotic in the Dortmund box and in turn drew a foul from the Dortmund defender. Many may claim Ribery dived or that it was simply a spot of luck, but such opportunities simply didn't pop up before he stepped on the pitch.

Robben may have put away the penalty with the confidence and technique of a player who has quite rightfully enjoyed a splendid season under Guardiola, and the history books may just record this match as another win for Bayern over Dortmund, but in truth it was a match that looked destined to turn out another way before Ribery had a chance to impose himself on the game. 

Bayern won the first Der Klassiker of the season and have now put themselves in a perfect position to wrap up another early league title. All of which was thanks to the excellence of Ribery.