James, Lewandowski, Kimmich, Gnabry and Martinez: Five key Bayern Munich players for Der Klassiker
The second Der Klassiker of the season between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is fast approaching and whoever emerges victorious come the end of the Matchday 28 meeting at the Allianz Arena may well do so with one hand on the Bundesliga title.
So, who will decide this crucial meeting? bundesliga.com introduces the home side’s key players hoping to see off Dortmund and go one step closer to keeping the Meisterschale in Bavaria.
Robert Lewandowski
The peerless Pole, once positioned on the other side of this battle, is behind only Gerd Müller (14) as Der Klassiker’s leading scorer in Bundesliga showdowns between these two storied rivals. Lewandowski’s 13 efforts in this league fixture have seen the 30-year-old net 12 goals in nine league matches against his old employers, for whom he scored the only goal of the game in Dortmund’s 1-0 win over Bayern in 2012 as the Black and Yellows romped to the Bundesliga title. His 19 Klassiker goals in all competitions, meanwhile, are unmatched.
Lewandowski’s 18 strikes so far this season see him on course to retain the top-scorer canon, which would see the Bayern hitman take home the gong for a fourth time. The league’s record foreign goalscorer has five goals in his last three Bundesliga outings and will take some stopping on the ground where no other player in history has had more success in front of goal.
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James Rodriguez
The Colombian playmaker has been a breath of fresh air for Bayern since returning from the knee injury that saw him miss six matches at the end of 2018. James’ return to the side has coincided with eight wins and just one defeat as Bayern have moved top of the Bundesliga by virtue of a greater goal difference than Dortmund.
The on-loan Real Madrid man provides the artistry in Bayern’s midfield and in recent weeks has reformed the virtuoso partnership he shares with Thiago; the Spanish-speaking duo helping move Niko Kovac’s men to their own mesmerising rhythm that has all the intensity and sex appeal of the tango. James has added goals of his own, too, scoring in Bayern’s 6-0 win over Wolfsburg on Matchday 25 before bagging a hat-trick a week later as Mainz were also hit for six.
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Joshua Kimmich
What a season the Germany international is having and Kimmich’s importance to Bayern is highlighted by the fact the 24-year-old is the only member of Kovac’s squad to feature in every league match so far. His 10 Bundesliga assists are only bettered by Jadon Sancho’s quite remarkable return of 12 and the league’s top two schemers could end up going head-to-head at the Allianz.
Kimmich will surely affect the game going forward, and his marauding runs and expert delivery from both open play and set-pieces will need the Dortmund defence to be at its best. If he can keep the likes of Sancho, Christian Pulisic and Jacob Bruun Larsen busy in the Dortmund half rather than creating mischief in Bayern’s, that will also go a long way to securing the result in his side’s favour.
Javi Martinez
If James is the foil in Munich's midfield, then Martinez is the sabre. The Spaniard is defined by his consistency, versatility and immense leadership that has stood out in recent weeks as Bayern have hauled in and then overtaken Dortmund. Martinez has won 56 per cent of his direct duels this season and is crucial in regaining possession for his side and empowering James, Thiago and Leon Goretzka to supply the flanks and feed Lewandowski.
The defensive midfielder is a true winner and his importance is there for all to see in Bayern’s return of 44 points at an average of 2.6 point per game in the 17 matches featuring Martinez (which includes just one defeat), compared to 16 points from nine games (1.8 points per game, three defeats) without the 30-year-old. No player in Bundesliga history has reached 100 victories faster than Martinez, too, with the Spain international moving to the mark after just 120 games, lifting the title in all six of his seasons in Munich.
Serge Gnabry
Only Lewandowski has scored more Bundesliga goals for Bayern this season than the jet-heeled winger’s seven as Gnabry has emerged as one of the Bavarians’ most potent attacking threats. While Dortmund have for so long had to focus on keeping Arjen Robben off his favoured left foot, they will now need to change tact and keep Gnabry off his right, the 23-year-old having scored 23 of his 28 Bundesliga goals on that side since moving back to Germany in 2016.
Direct and full of running, Gnabry will pose a stern test to BVB's full-backs and could he be deployed from his favoured left flank, the prospect of Gnabry going up against the equally rapid Achraf Hakimi will make for frenetic football at breakneck speed. No other Bayern player performs as many sprints as Gnabry, who averages 35 runs at his soaring top speed every match.
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