Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 28 February 2026
One of the marquee fixtures of Bundesliga matchday 24 will take place on Saturday at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, where the local side Borussia will host Bayern Munich. This clash between two title contenders could directly shape the fate of the Meisterschale, and I suggest we take a closer look at this encounter with a focus on high-scoring action.
Match preview
Borussia Dortmund approach the biggest match of the spring in somewhat mixed form. After a run of six consecutive league wins, Niko Kovac's side hit the brakes: a 2-2 draw with Leipzig allowed Bayern to extend their lead to eight points, followed by a painful Champions League exit – beaten 1-4 by Atalanta in the return leg after a 2-0 home win. Now, the Bundesliga is all the Black and Yellows have left, giving this encounter must-win status.
Squad-wise, things are relatively stable, but the suspension of Julian Ryerson is a major blow to the right flank. The Norwegian has not only locked down the wing but also delivered on set pieces – already 14 assists in all competitions, 11 of them in the Bundesliga. Likely replacement Ian Couto adds technical flair but takes away some balance, especially off the ball, and that aspect will be crucial against the visitors' mobile attack.
Bayern enter Der Klassiker on the back of four straight domestic wins. After some January setbacks allowed their rivals to close the gap, the Munich side have shifted back into pragmatic control mode – perhaps not dazzling, but certainly effective. The lead has grown, giving the team some margin for error, but no one in Dortmund is coming to play for a draw.
A key point: no suspensions for Jonathan Tah and Joshua Kimmich, who were both one booking away. The loss of Alphonso Davies hurts the dynamic on the flank, and the question mark over Manuel Neuer's fitness will be resolved at the last minute – the veterans won't be risked. Meanwhile, the stats heavily favor the visitors: Bayern haven't lost in Dortmund for over six years, and their unbeaten away streak in the Bundesliga now stretches to twenty matches.
Probable lineups
- Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Rejani, Nmecha, Sabitzer, Svensson, Couto, Chukwuemeka, Adeyemi, Guirassy.
- Bayern: Urbig, Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Olise, Musiala, Diaz, Kane.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Bayern have not lost in Dortmund for over six years, winning five of their last seven visits.
- In seven of the last ten head-to-head meetings, the teams have scored more than three goals.
- Bayern's only Bundesliga defeat this season came at home, while they remain flawless on the road.
Prediction
For Borussia, this is the match of the season – a defeat would all but end their title hopes, while a win cuts the gap to five points and piles the pressure back on the leaders. Bayern, meanwhile, play from a position of strength and experience, expertly managing high-stakes encounters even in hostile territory. Expect open football with chances at both ends.
