Leroy Sane, Gio Reyna and 5 Klassiker debutants ahead of Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich
This weekend will see Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich face-off in the league’s opening Klassiker of the season; yet another high-stakes derby day to add to the list that this season sees the likes of Leroy Sane and Gio Reyna roll the dice in a number of firsts.
bundesliga.com looks at five Der Klassiker first-timers hoping to help their sides win big as the Bundesliga’s top-two go all-in at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.
Leroy Sane
This may be Sane’s first Klassiker, but Dortmund rivalries certainly aren’t unfamiliar to the 24-year-old, who made two Revierderby appearances as a Schalke player in 2015/16; providing an assist in a 3-2 defeat at the first attempt and scoring in a 2-2 draw later that season.
The Germany international has previously said he would never play for Dortmund, “even if successful football is played there”, and his ties to the Royal Blues - whom he joined as a nine-year-old - mean Sane will be even more determined to get one over BVB this weekend.
Watch: Leroy Sane's Bundesliga mixtape
With two goals and two assists from his first four games back in the German top-flight, you wouldn’t put it past a fired up Sane to do just that when he renews rivalry with the Black and Yellows - a prospect he will only find more appealing for being in Dortmund’s own backyard.
Gio Reyna
The 17-year-old American has featured in this fixture before - as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat on Matchday 28 last season and after coming off the bench in the 3-2 DFL Supercup loss at the start of this term - but Reyna’s third attempt at denying Bayern could see him make a first Klassiker start just weeks after his Revierderby bow.
Both of Reyna’s late cameos against Bayern saw him enter the field with 18 minutes remaining, but having started all but one of their first six Bundesliga matches, Dortmund’s midfield prodigy is now in line to face the reigning champions from the off.
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He spoke earlier in the season of being ready to “make a really big jump” this year and, after receiving his first call-up to the USMNT for the November international break, a decisive contribution against Bayern would certainly underline that notion for a young man who has already chalked up three Bundesliga assists and a goal of his own this term.
Jude Bellingham
When signing for the club in the summer, Bellingham - another 17-year-old prodigy now flourishing in Dortmund - said it “feels massive” to be at the Signal Iduna Park and those words won’t ring truer than when he lines up against Bayern.
He did get a 14 minute taste of this fixture in September's Supercup, but his Klassiker debut in the Bundesliga will be an entirely different experience - especially with Dortmund fans so desperate to end Bayern’s eight-year grip on the Meisterschale.
Watch: Dortmund's teenage dreamers
Despite his youth, Bellingham has impressively taken to life in his new surrounds, immediately establishing himself as a key component in Favre’s midfield and the lad from England’s second city could have an important role to play up against Bayern pair Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Arriving this summer from French champions Paris Saint-Germain, Choupo-Moting is having to bide his time as Bayern leading man Robert Lewandowski has his heart set on breaking a new record each week.
The 31-year-old is still getting up to speed but did follow up his first two goals and assist on debut in the 3-0 cup win over FC Düren with a maiden Bayern start in their 2-1 win over Cologne at the weekend.
Another former Schalke man, two of Choupo-Moting’s six Revierderby outings came alongside Sane in 2015/16, while he hit die Knappen’s second to secure a 2-1 win over Dortmund the year prior. A similar contribution would endear him further to the Bayern faithful.
Jamal Musiala
Much has been made of the aforementioned 17-year-old Dortmund duo, but Bayern have their own teen star enjoying a breakout season in Musiala.
After making his senior debut with a two minute cameo against Frieburg at the back-end of last season, the Stuttgart-born attacking midfielder - who has represented both England and Germany at youth international level - is now a permanent fixture in Hansi Flick’s senior squad.
Watch: Musiala scores in 5-0 Bayern rout of Eintracht Frankfurt
His gliding, almost languid style of dipping in and out between defenders make Musiala exciting viewing and his two goals from five late substitute appearances in the league so far should mean that Dortmund will be kept on their toes should the youngster climb off the bench on Saturday.
Don’t forget…
There are more players in the ranks of both camps that could also both taste and influence Der Klassiker for the first time, with Thomas Meunier and Joshua Zirkzee two that also got their first taste of this storied rivalry in the Supercup, but are yet to feature in a league encounter.
Meanwhile, one of American Chris Richards and Bouna Sarr are likely to take up a spot on the Bayern bench and would each make their Klassiker debuts if called upon, while the same can be said for their Spanish teammate Marc Roca and Dortmund pair Mateu Morey and Reinier.
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