FC Bayern Munich: The Holders Travel To The Westfalen Where Dortmund Awaits

With Bayern in disastrous form and Dortmund flying high, this clash promises a surprise or two.

Dortmund

Dortmund has been in fine form and has lost only two games this season. One of those losses came in the league on the opening day away to Leverkusen. The timing of the other loss couldn't have been worse despite the fact that Dortmund were unlucky to lose. They lost to Sevilla on Thursday, three days before taking on the biggest name in German football, Bayern Munich.

The referee at the Westfalen (now called the Signal-Iduna Park) was undoubtedly biased as he sent off Marcel Schmelzer for a dive when the young German left-back had clearly been fouled. It was Schmelzer's challenge in the first-half though which resulted, not only in a yellow-card for the youngster, but also in Sevilla's goal.

There are hardly any "holes" in the side. At almost every position, there is an able back-up should any injuries occur. Take, Kuba for an example. He would start in any midfield in the Bundesliga but has to be satisfied at times with a place on the bench due to the up and coming genius, Mario Goetze.

Also, not too many players in the club are in situations such as that of Mario Gomez at Bayern due to coach Juergen Klopp's constant rotations.The coach will have to use rotations in order to make sure that his side, having player a half with ten men on Thursday, will be fresh and ready to go.

The defence is very strong. In Roman Weidenfeller, Dortmund has a good keeper. The central defence pairing of Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic is one that Bayern and Werder could do with. Patrick Owomoyela on the right brings experience.

Marcel Schmelzer is young, much like the rest of the Dortmund squad but is undoubtedly highly talented. Nuri Sahin in defensive midfield is like a rock. Add to that the versatility of the likes of Kevin Grosskreutz, Sven Bender and Shinji Kagawa, and a young but fearsome side emerges.

And all that, without even mentioning Lucas Barrios, the goal machine.

Bayern

Bayern has a leaky defence to start off with. The defence on its day is brilliant and on its off-day is pathetic. Even Philipp Lahm, the most consistent full-back in the Bundesliga has looked short of his best. How Daniel Van Buyten keeps his place in the team as a defender (not as a striker) is beyond me. His partner Holger Badstuber has potential but is afraid of tackling.

With Diego Contento, the attacking left-back out injured, Daniel Pranjic, who is well short of his best has to deputize. Hans- Joerg Butt is the only one who seems to be on form.

The midfield hasn't been brilliant either. Mark Van Bommel hasn't done much wrong but he has contributed very little to the offence. Bastian Schweinsteiger's passing has been good and he scored two against Basel as well as the winner against Wolfsburg. However, his normal contributions in the offence aren't ever-present as they were last season.

Thomas Mueller on the wing can turn up for five minutes and then disappear for the entire match. On the opposite wing, Toni Kroos has shown his brilliance only in spells.

Up-front, things haven't been great either. Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose and Ivica Olic haven't found the back of the net in the league. However, they cannot be blamed because the supply from the midfielders and defenders per match is close to zero. With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery injured, the team is really struggling but Louis Van Gaal is refusing to change things much.

Probable Line-ups

Hamit Altintop for Bayern and Mario Goetze as well as Owomoyela for Dortmund are doubtful for this one:

Bayern: Joerg Butt; Lahm- Van Buyten- Badstuber- Pranjic; Van Bommel- Schweinsteiger; Mueller- Kroos- Olic; Klose

Dortmund: Weidernfeller; Lukas Piszczek- Hummels- Subotic- Schmelzer; Sahin- Sven Bender; Kuba- Grosskreutz- Kagawa; Barrios

Prediction

Dortmund has scored in all their games barring their opening day loss in the Bundesliga whereas Bayern is struggling to score goals. Bayern won this fixture 5-1 last season but a repeat of that result is unlikely.

Final Score: Dortmund 2-1 Bayern