Strikers square off as Dortmund hosts Bayern

We need an intensity in our play.

Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller is tackled by Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra.

The biggest surprise is RB Leipzig, who find themselves in first place with 27 points but with two of Europe’s biggest clubs close behind, they can not get comfortable.

Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa will likely start the match as they provide width and pace to the team, much needed for Bayern’s style of play.

That’s piled even more meaning onto what’s already a highly-charged rivalry match, with Bayern heading northwest to face Borussia Dortmund.

Dutchman Arjen Robben also looks to have overcome a minor thigh muscle injury picked up on global duty but coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest concern is over Chilean Arturo Vidal who played twice for his country despite an injury. They picked up right where they left off _ Lewandowski topped the Bundesliga last season with 30 goals and helped Bayern win an unprecedented fourth consecutive title. FCB were, however, the last side to leave Dortmund with all three points (1-0 in April 2015).

Lothar Matthaus feels it was inappropriate for Mats Hummels to visit his former team-mates in the Borussia Dortmund dressing room before Bayern Munich’s Klassiker loss on Saturday.

The Bavarians have scored in each of their last 19 Bundesliga games – a league best.

As the second half wore on, it became clear that Bayern’s recent form was catching up with them as a number of their key players looked painfully average against BVB.

But with two of those coming in front of the Bayern faithful at the Allianz Arena, where you would expect Ancelotti’s men to be dominant and ruthless in front of goal, fans could be forgiven for being perhaps a tad fearful going into tomorrow’s match at Signal Iduna Park.

“We have allowed Bayern a few half chances, but not really big chances”.

Thomas Müller is on a 682-minute Bundesliga goal drought.

Ousmane Dembele came in as a substitute and impressed the manager by scoring the fifth goal against Hamburger. A different Müller (Hamburg’s Nicolai) bagged a brace against Dortmund last time out.

Gone are the days when the rivalry spiked between the sides when Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich) and Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund) were in charge some years back.