Jamie Gittens and Jamal Musiala mesmerise as Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich produce Klassiker to remember
The 111th Der Klassiker lived up to its billing as two of the youngest stars of the world game – Jamie Gittens and Jamal Musiala – made it a night to remember for fans of both sides in a pulsating contest between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich that ended 1-1.
In a game that grabs attention across the globe, hosts BVB continued their upward domestic trend to tame the Bundesliga leaders under the lights at a bouncing Signal Iduna Park.
The stands almost lifted from their foundations at the iconic venue when 20-year-old English attacker Gittens scored what will go down as one of the most memorable goals in this famous fixture in the first half. Yet with just five minutes to go, the 21-year-old Musiala enhanced his burgeoning reputation as a heading specialist when nodding in a tidy leveller.
Watch: Der Klassiker thriller ends all square
Prior to the encounter, Gittens spoke to bundesliga.com of his first experience of Der Klassiker in Dortmund colours. “That was back in 2022; I feel old,” the England U21 international joked. “That was my first game off the bench; minute 60 I came on. I came into the game and was nervous to see all the big names… but I had a good feeling in myself that I was getting to that step."
A couple of years later, Gittens was lighting up the afterburners as Dortmund’s quickest player on Saturday night, haring past Konrad Laimer on the left touchline at 21.4mp/h before edging in towards goal and slamming high past goalkeeping legend Manuel Neuer for 1-0.
The noise that greeted the game’s opener was spine-tingling. For the first time, Gittens found the net in a third straight game in Black-and-Yellow in all competitions while his fourth in the Bundesliga this term represents a new personal best for a single season.
Watch: Jamie Gittens on "tough" Klassiker
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“We obviously know the speed he's got,” BVB's Felix Nmecha told bundesliga.com when asked about Gittens after the game. “When he keeps doing that it helps the team a lot. In the last year, he has grown and developed and with the more game time he's getting, the more he's making the right decisions at the right time which is helping him a lot and is paying off.”
Despite Bayern’s subsequent dominance in possession and chances – the Bavarians enjoyed 63 per cent of the ball and bettered Borussia in terms of shots by 10-2 in the second half - Gittens’ strike so very nearly won the day for Dortmund. Had it done so, it would have extended the team’s winning run at home under coach Nuri Şahin to nine straight victories in all competitions.
Yet Bayern are also blazing a trail with Vincent Kompany at the helm and their own unbeaten Bundesliga run in 2024/25 would be preserved by the once-again magnificent Musiala.
In the closing minutes, the Germany international was perfectly placed to receive Michael Olise’s third assist of the season, which Musiala guided past Gregor Kobel with a precise header. The equaliser made it seven goals in the thrilling attacker’s last eight games in all competitions, four of which have been headers. It also meant that all six of the Stuttgart native’s top-flight goals this season have been scored away from home, more than any other player has managed on the road this term.
“In the second half we came out with more energy and we kept pushing for the goal,” Musiala told bundesliga.com after the final whistle. “[The equaliser] might not have been enough for a win, but to come away with a point is still positive," he added, after making it a single goal in each of his last six away games.
Watch: Gittens' goal seen from RefCam
Involved in more efforts on goal during the latest version of Der Klassiker – Musiala had two shots and set up another four – Bayern’s No. 42 has been one of the key reasons for his team’s presence on top of the Bundesliga for 10 Matchdays this term. Along with Gittens, the young pair provided the perfect performances to keep supporters in thrall in a Klassiker that proved to be an unmissable spectacle.
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