Bayern hold off Dortmund in 2-1 Klassiker thriller

Another Klassiker is over! And Bayern have come out victorious yet again.

The Bavarians dominated large parts of the first half against Borussia Dortmund , controlling possession and creating multiple clear chances, though the Black-and-Yellows showed little threat initially. Harry Kane scored the only goal of the first half to give Bayern the lead.

Dortmund came out after halftime with renewed energy, pressing aggressively and hitting the post, forcing Bayern into several tense defensive moments. Against the run of play, Bayern extended their lead with a fortunate deflection from Michael Olise , before Julian Brandt pulled one back for Dortmund in the 84th minute . Despite a frantic finish, Bayern held on for a hard-fought 2–1 victory in this Klassiker.

Here is a more detailed match review:

Bayern Munich delivered a commanding performance in the first half against Borussia Dortmund , creating chance after chance while largely controlling possession and dictating the tempo.

The opening exchanges were dominated by Bayern’s attackers . Michael Olise came close early on, but his shot was blocked at the last moment. Shortly after, Joshua Kimmich tested Gregor Kobel with a powerful strike from outside the box, which the Dortmund goalkeeper managed to parry. Olise had another promising effort, and a rebound fell to Díaz, who should have scored but hesitated slightly - a recurring theme for the winger, whose ball control and first touch are excellent but whose finishing often takes too long to materialize.

Bayern’s high press, led by Jackson, caused Dortmund numerous problems, forcing mistakes in buildup play and exposing errors from Kobel, who struggled to distribute the ball under pressure. Kane also impressed, not only contributing to the attacking build-up but showing his versatility by frequently receiving the ball in his own half.

The breakthrough came in the 21st minute from Bayern’s first corner of the match. Harry Kane rose highest to win the duel against striker colleague Guirassy and headed the ball into the net, giving the hosts a more than deserved 1-0 lead.

Bayern continued to create opportunities throughout the half. Sacha Boey had a nice effort that went just wide, and several other chances went begging, leaving Dortmund fortunate that the deficit was only one goal at halftime.

Bayern’s dominance and high pressing made the first half very one-sided, setting the stage for an exciting second 45 minutes.

Halftime score: Bayern Munich 1-0 Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund started the second half with energy and urgency, determined to avoid a repeat of their first-half struggles. Felix Nmecha came close in the 48th minute with a powerful header that went just wide - a moment that could easily have changed the game early on.

The opening 20 minutes were marked by intense physicality, with several fouls from both sides. Konrad Laimer and substitute Ramy Bensebaini were shown yellow cards during this phase, as the game’s tempo and aggression escalated.

Around the hour mark, Dortmund continued to dominate, creating a big chance when Guirassy volleyed a cross from Svensson high over the bar, and later when Adeyemi missed from close range after a Bayern defensive mistake - a stroke of luck for the hosts.

Against the run of play, Bayern struck again on the counterattack. Harry Kane released Díaz , who dribbled along the goal line before Kobel’s save left the ball in a dangerous position. In a twist of fortune, Jobe Bellingham’s attempted clearance deflected into the path of Michael Olise , who forced the ball in to make it 2–0 for Bayern .

Dortmund finally reduced the deficit in the 84th minute , as substitute Julian Brandt converted a precise cross from Ryerson to make it 2–1 . The final ten minutes were played in a frenzied atmosphere, with Dortmund pressing relentlessly and Bayern holding firm. Díaz had another clear chance in stoppage time but again failed to find the net, continuing a frustrating trend in this game for the winger.

Despite Dortmund’s dominant second-half display, Bayern’s resilience and counterattacking sharpness proved decisive. The match ended 2–1 , giving the hosts all three points in a high-intensity Klassiker.

Final score: Bayern Munich 2–1 Borussia Dortmund