Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich is always a classic encounter but this year the circumstances could not be more different or the stakes much higher.
Without the loud backing of their ‘Yellow Wall’, second-place Dortmund will attempt to move within one point of the Bundesliga leaders today with a home win.
Bayern know that a draw will keep them favourites and victory — even if they do not admit it — will make them odds on for a record-extending eighth title with a seven-point lead with only six further games to play.
Behind them outside contenders RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen have winnable home games in the mid-week round and could see their slight chances improve should Dortmund do them a favour.
“We obviously have a lot of respect for Bayern,” said Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney. “But I’m personally really looking forward to this match. And we’re in really good form.”
Dortmund have won nine of their last 10 matches with that 27-point haul their second best start to the second half of a season. They managed 28 in 2011/12 as they streaked away to the title.
But that year Bayern could not keep pace, collecting 20 points, while this time the Munich side have been even better — gaining 28 to extend their lead.
In recent head-to-head encounters, Dortmund have not fared well against Bayern with two wins from the last 11. But those two wins have been their last home matches, in league and Super Cup.
“I hope that we can pick up our next victory,” defender Manuel Akanji said after Saturday’s win at Wolfsburg. “Since I’ve been at BVB, we’ve always lost to Bayern away but won at home. I want to keep that run going by winning at home.” 
The coronavirus outbreak forcing games behind closed doors seems to have diluted home advantage, however. Just three of 18 games played since the restart have been won by hosts, though one of those was Dortmund dismantling Schalke in the Ruhr derby.
Dortmund hope explosive winger Jadon Sancho could be fit to start after injury while Mats Hummels is a doubt with an Achilles problem.
With captain Marco Reus injured, Dortmund will rely on teenage scoring sensation Erling Braut Haaland for their main threat while Bayern have not only league top-scorer Robert Lewandowski but Thomas Mueller in excellent form.
They will also be boosted by the return of midfielder Axel Witsel.
“We’re marching on. Dortmund are marching on. We have reason to look forward to Tuesday. We want the title in Munich, where it belongs,” said a typically bullish Mueller after netting in Saturday’s thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt.
Coach Hansi Flick was more measured, stressing “nothing will be decided,” by the encounter, “no matter what the result”.
Bayern will be without midfielder Thiago after the Spaniard did not train yesterday. He previously missed the weekend 5-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt with an adductor problem.
Flick also confirmed defender Jerome Boateng would be fit to play and no one else would miss out.
“It is a very special game,” Flick said yesterday, with Bayern heading to Dortmund with a four-point lead. “As a coach, there is no question that the fans are a missing factor.”
Ten of the 18 league games since the restart have been won by the away team.
“The atmosphere can inspire any team. It is about how you can cope (without the support),” Flick added. “You have to accept the current situation and can’t look for an excuse.”
The table-topper opens today’s fixtures before Bayer Leverkusen welcome Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt host Freiburg and Werder Bremen take on Borussia Moenchengladbach.


Fixtures

Today

* Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
* Bayer Leverkusen v VfL Wolfsburg
* Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg
* Werder Bremen v Bor. Moenchengladbach

Tomorrow

* RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin
* Hoffenheim v Cologne
* Fortuna Duesseldorf v Schalke 04
* Augsburg v Paderborn
* Union Berlin v Mainz 05
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