Dortmund are on the attack. Another goal right now would certainly make things very interesting.

The outcome of this game has been clear for quite some time. Dortmund are looking to claw another goal back but Bayern appear the most likely to strike again with the visiting defence struggling to contain them.

The German international delivers a delicious chip into the net on the half volley, but the strike is ruled out for offside.

Bayern win the ball in the Dortmund danger area as Kobel misplaces a clearance. Musiala goes clear on the target and tries to shimmy around the away goalkeeper, who reacts well to force him to deflect a shot wide.

Can Dortmund respond or will Bayern further extend their lead?

A dream first-half for Bayern sets them on course to retake top spot in the Bundesliga. They simply blew Dortmund away with their attacking class, landing three goals within the space of ten minutes, albeit profiting from a bad error from Gregor Kobel for the opener.

The Frenchman has been a real livewire in the first half. He gets the ball in the box and tries to dribble around Kobel, but slips in a promising position.

Dortmund are attacking, but without too much conviction right now.

Brandt has a header in the Bayern box then Choupo-Moting flashes a drive that Kobel saves. Dortmund will be hoping they could snatch a goal before half-time to make things more interesting.

Dortmund may have weathered the worst of the Bayern storm - for now at least. The visitors are keeping the ball better for now and getting it into the Munich club's half.

High-fives have been swapped, the coin has been tossed and we are off in the Klassiker!

It's seriously loud at the Allianz Arena as the fans reflect just how much is at stake in this fixture. The players are about to take to the field - it's time to get real!

Kick off is almost upon us in Munich in this particularly eagerly awaited Klassiker.

The new man at the Bayern helm looks to be going with a 4-2-3-1, with Benjamin Pavard playing at right-back. During his most recent games, former coach Julian Nagelsmann had mostly relied on a back three.

Some more good news for Dortmund on the recovered-from-injury front. Youssoufa Moukoko and Karim Adeyemi are back in the squad after respective stints on the sidelines. Moukoko last played seven weeks ago in the 2-0 win in Bremen, while Adeyemi was last in action six weeks ago in a 4-1 triumph against Hertha.

Visiting coach Edin Terzic shows three changes to his starting XI compared to the side that walloped Cologne prior to the international break. Emre Can returns from suspension while Gregor Kobel and Julian Brandt are finally injury free and good to go here.

Meyer, Özcan, Dahoud, Hummels, Moukoko, Adeyemi, Modeste, Malen, Bynoe-Gittens

Kobel - Wolf, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson - Bellingham, Can, Guerreiro - Brandt, Haller, Reus (c)

Ulreich, Gnabry, Mane, Cancelo, Blind, Gravenberch, Mazraoui, Musiala, Stanisic

Sommer - Pavard, Upamecano, de Ligt - Coman, Kimmich, Goretzka, Davies - Sane, Müller (c) - Choupo-Moting

Coach watch: here's Borussia boss Edin Terzic on what he feels his side has to do today. "We must courageously seize our opportunities and show a different face [today] than we have in recent years in Munich."

After all of the build up and excitement during a week of anticipation, the day is finally upon us! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Der Klassiker!

"There's no bigger challenge than starting my time here with a game against Dortmund," Tuchel said at his official unveiling. "It's the biggest game in German football, and has an added element to it, given the current state of the league table. Dortmund are on a fantastic run of form [but] that won't stop us from going into the challenge with excitement and anticipation."

Julian Brandt, Gregor Kobel and Youssoufa Moukoko have all been absent in recent weeks for Dortmund, while Nico Schlotterbeck left the Germany camp earlier in the week due to a muscular complaint. However, Black-and-Yellow fans can be hopeful that all four players will be available for the game. "I have a very good feeling that I'll be ok by the weekend," said Schlotterbeck. Meanwhile, sporting director Sebastian Kehl said he believes Moukoko "will be in the squad" and is hopeful that "we'll have a big group in training by the end of the week and can travel to Munich with confidence and a full squad".

A total of 346 goals have been scored in the 107 league meetings so far: 215 for Bayern, 131 for BVB. That equates to an average of 3.23 per game. As there have only been five goalless draws over the years, the chances are good we'll see a few more goals on Saturday!

It's advantage Bayern in the historical stakes, the Reds having won 52 (49 percent) of the 107 Klassiker fixtures in the Bundesliga to date. There have been 30 draws and 25 victories for Dortmund. Bayern's success rate is considerably higher at home, where they've taken the spoils 34 times out of 53 (64 percent). There have been 10 draws in Munich and just nine wins for BVB.

The record champions do tend to like a kick-about of a Saturday eve. Bayern have not been on the losing end in a Saturday showpiece, evening game in 25 previous encounters (20 wins, five draws).

BVB fans looks away now. Saturday's hosts have won their last eight Bundesliga home games against Dortmund (with an aggregate goal difference of 33-6).

Incredibly, this is the 13th time in the last 12 years - and 19th time in total - that Bayern and Dortmund meet as the first and second (or vice versa) placed teams in the division.

What a game we have in store at the Allianz Arena! Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern are in the unaccustomed position - at least in recent memory - of playing catch up as we begin April. Their Klassiker rivals Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, lead the way at the top of the standings after a tremendous 2023. This one is going to be tasty.

Thanks for joining us for build-up and liver coverage of the Matchday 26 Klassiker encounter between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.