German champions Bayern Munich played host to Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Sunday looking to make it eight wins from eight so far this season.
Pep Guardiola's men gained control through a Thomas Muller brace, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave the visitors a lifeline at 2-1.
Robert Lewandowksi had other ideas, however, as he grabbed a quick-fire brace of his own, leaving Mario Gotze to later add another and complete an emphatic 5-1 win for Munich.
Relive all of the action with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Good afternoon everyone and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Bayern Munich's Der Klassiker clash with rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Munich have started this season in record form, having collected seven wins from seven fixtures while also being able to post a positive goal difference of 20.
Dortmund new boy Thomas Tuchel has enjoyed a positive start to his new job too, given that Dortmund are unbeaten in seven and won the first five fixtures of the new Bundesliga term.
Munich coach Pep Guardiola has been able to rely on some blistering attacking moves from his charges this term, and today's hosts have already scored 23 goals in the new season. Bayern fans have been particularly treated by some standout performances from frontman Robert Lewandowski, who has 14 goals in all competitions thus far.
As for Dortmund, much of their attacking threat has been based around the massive presence of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has 11 goals to his name already. BVB have also been boosted by the performances of creative men Shinji Kagawa and Henrikh Mkhitaryan from a touch deeper.
Time for some team news now...
BAYERN MUNICH STARTING XI: Neuer; Thiago, Martinez, Lewandowski, Costa, Alonso, Boateng, Gotze, Lahm, Muller, Alaba
BAYERN MUNICH SUBSTITUTES: Rafinha, Gaudino, Vidal, Coman, Kimmich, Steinhart
BORUSSIA DORTMUND STARTING XI: Burki; Piszczek, Hummels, Bender, Sokratis, Weigl, Gündogan, Castro, Kagawa, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang
BORUSSIA DORTMUND SUBSTITUTES: Subs: Weidenfeller, Park, Hofmann, Januzaj, Reus, Ramos, Ginter
The home side have brought in the trio of Javi Martinez, Xabi Alonso and Thomas Muller as expected given that they were rested in the club's last game. Lewandowski leads the line in attack, while Arturo Vidal will be looking to make an appearance from the bench after seemingly recovering from his knee issues.
Dortmund rested virtually all of their first-team players when playing in the Europa League on Thursday, and they have been restored to a strong starting XI. Aubameyang leads the line up top, while a deeper three of Castro, Kagawa and Mkhitaryan will operate a touch deeper in the final third.
While Bayern have won all seven of their fixtures this term, Dortmund have drawn their last two Bundesliga games and they will be itching to get back to winning ways after also drawing against PAOK in midweek. It will be interesting to see what approach Tuchel takes today when considering that Bayern have the perfect side to operate on either the attack or the counter.
What will have irked BVB was that they threw away a victory last time out against SV Darmstadt 98 in the final minutes of the game. Grabbing a win in that fixture would have made this one even more exciting than it already is!
A win for the hosts today would lift them seven points beyond Tuchel and company, although an away victory would blow things wide open early on in the season. As it stands, Bayern have never gone past eight fixtures without dropping a point so they will be hoping to gain a victory today to keep that aspiration alive.
Bayern have yet to really be trouble this term, both on the domestic and European fronts. They have crashed numerous goals beyond German opposition in the league, while also notching comfortable victories against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos in the Champions League. The Bavarians have only conceded three goals across all main formats too.
Here is a snap from a little earlier this afternoon as Bayern were put through their paces:
Es ist schon ordentlich was los auf dem Rasen. Beide Teams machen sich warm. Nur noch 25 Minuten warten! #FCBBVB pic.twitter.com/CcMIATjtw2
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) October 4, 2015
Vidal has been struggling in recent weeks with some knee trouble, but he appears to have made progress with a place on the bench. The midfielder could make a vital impact in the game if and when he is introduced later on.
Just under five minutes until kickoff now and it is time for me to make a prediction. Dortmund have struggled a touch in the last two weeks and Bayern arguably have a bit too much quality across the pitch to be losing at home today. I'm going 3-1 in favour of Munich.
The players are now coming out onto the pitch as we await the start of the game. Colours abound as the players take to the pitch, and the Allianz Arena is already rocking ahead of kickoff! This should be a belter...
Reus is on the bench today in a surprise change for Tuchel. He could be important coming off the bench later in the fixture. Here we go then, kickoff is upon us.
KICKOFF! Borussia get us moving with the ball passed around the back. Bayern are quick on the press and are able to win the ball in the Dortmund half.
Munich move down the right channel through Gotze for the first time as he seeks to put a ball into the middle for Lewandowski. Hummels is able to shuffle across and head clear. Dortmund move down the other end, where Kagawa is able to win a cheap corner.
YELLOW CARD! Mkhitaryan is first to the kick and he sends in a driven shot down low, which is blocked by Bayern. BVB hold some share of the possession and move quickly forward to the surprise of Alaba. He is forced to bring Aubameyang down on the edge of the area at the expense of a yellow card.
Gundogan is the man over the ball, but his free kick goes straight into the wall to win a corner. Neuer is nowhere near the ball and has to rely on his defence to head away the danger.
Dortmund have shown that they are not afraid to move forward in these early stages and Bayern are yet to really put anything together going forward. Lewandowski does well, however, down in the corner to whip in a cross for Muller, who is eventually crowded out by Hummels.
Mkhitaryan has some space down the left channel and he moves forward in search of a crossed ball into Kagawa. The effort is not a bad one, but the Bayern keeper shows good command of his area to claim the delivery and prevent the danger developing.
Bayern are just starting to get their foot on the ball as they move the leather around the middle. Costa comes forward into the final third to win a corner, which does not clear the first Dortmund defender. Munich slowly growing into this game...
Munich dally on the ball in the final third and Kagawa is able to break free on the counter. Bayern soon catch up and the visitors are forced to move the ball back into their own half. Aubameyang looks to make a run beyond the last defedner, but the through-ball goes beyond him and Bayern gather.
Hmm... Dortmund do not seem too impressed when Costa goes down for the probably the worst dive in the existence of footballing history. He escapes a booking, much to the chagrin of the visiting team. Mkhitaryan does brilliantly again down the left and he has two players waiting inside the area. His cut-back is a little dodgy and allows Lahm to nip in and clear for a corner.
Hummels seeks to play the ball out from the back but his pass is poor. Weigl then concedes a poor free kick for a foul on Lewandowski in a dangerous position on the edge of the area. The free kick comes into the centre of the area, where Burki punches clear.
SHOT! Dortmund are only able to clear their lines as far as an on-rushing Alonso, who crashes a woeful effort high, wide and into the stands from the edge of the BVB box.
Dortmund do not look too bothered at the moment and they proceed to move the ball around inside their own half. Bayern have failed to really threaten thus far. However, they almost come good through some incisive movement from Muller, but he is eventually robbed by youngster Weigl.
Mkhitaryan is unmarked down the left channel and Gundogan is able to switch the ball across from the middle. The playmaker cuts inside to find a shot, which flies across the face of goal and wide. He might have done better with that one, to be honest.
CLOSE! Costa shows some lovely feet to skip past his man before firing a shot towards the near post. Burki is across to cover, but the keeper misses the next punch clear and has to rely on Piszczek to clear at the back-post.
GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Thomas Muller)
The ice man strikes! Dortmund go to sleep at the back, leaving Muller to time a perfect run to steal in and get on the end of a through-ball. Burki rushes out to try and intercept, but the striker keeps his cool to spin on the turn and flick his effort into an empty net. Wonderful finishing from the frontman...
CLOSE! Bayern are moving through the gears now and Alaba does well to shift his pace and flash a cross across the face of the area. Lewandowski is able to get on the end of it, but Hummels manages to get a foot in and keep his shot from troubling Burki.
Aubameyang is starting to cut a bit of an isolated figure up front, and he is receiving very little support from Kagawa when trying to keep the ball. Munich are starting to gain full control of this fixture and suddenly Dortmund are feeling the pressure of being 1-0 down away from home.
PENALTY TO BAYERN MUNICH!
GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 2-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Thomas Muller, penalty)
Munich move forward on the break through Lahm and he spots the overlapping run of Thiago down the right. He slips his teammate into the box and he produces a neat turn to wrong-foot Mkhitaryan, who eventually brings down his opponent with a tug. Muller does the necessaries from the penalty spot by sending Burki the wrong way and finding the bottom corner.
GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 2-1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang)
What is going on here? Bayern fall asleep on the right channel where Castro is left free to push forward. He flashes a cross into the box, where Aubameyang breaks free at the back post to slide home into the net. Munich's back-three looked all at sea, there.
That goal will give Borussia a lot of confidence going into half time as they now find themselves well in this game despite Bayern's recent dominance. Aubameyang does really well on the right to try and pick out a cross for Mkhitaryan, but Thiago hoofs away at the vital moment.
Bayern gain control of the midfield with some neat passing before the ball is pinged out to Costa. The winger's ball into the area is cleared only as far as Thiago and Munich start to circulate again. Costa receives the ball tight to the right and he is able to win a corner from Gundogan. The hosts cannot do much with it, however, as BVB clear at the first time of asking.
More great work now from Muller who pulls out to the right to stretch the visiting team. The move eventually breaks down, though, and Dortmund claim a goal kick. The visitors are struggling for width at the moment and may need to make some changes at the break. Munich have dominant the latter stages and might be a bit frustrated that they have not gone further ahead.
HALF TIME: BAYERN MUNICH 2-1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
That was a typical display from Bayern in the first half, who sized up their opponents before making the necessary advances to take the lead. The enjoy a deserved advantage, but will be irked having conceded when two in front.
Tuchel's men faded quickly after a promising start and they have had very little to write home about going forward. There has been little to no support to Aubameyang, who has done what has been asked of him up top alone. BVB need to bring some width into the fixture, and may decide to use Januzaj and Reus in the second period.
Muller's movement has been outstanding in the first half and he capitalised on some rather slack defending to give his side the lead. More skill from Costa won the penalty, leaving the German frontman to return and coolly slot home his second of the fixture.
Pep will be after much of the same in the second period, although his switch to a back-three has looked a touch suspect at times. They have been brilliant in the final third, however, and will likely score again in this match.
As for Tuchel, Kagawa has offered little in the game and going through the centre has been a poor option for BVB. He might like to bring some widemen into the match to stretch the hosts and add some pace on the counter. Reus is perfect for that kind of role.
What might be concerning for the visitors is the prospect of Vidal being introduced at some point. He could really kill the game off on the counter attack and will bring another attacking edge to the hosts' play later in the fixture.
As it stands, Bayern have now opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the table and they could be standing on top of eight straight league wins if things remain the same or even improve in the second period.
The players are now making their way back out onto the pitch as we await the start of the second half. Can Bayern hold on to claim another win, or will Dortmund be able to snatch something from this encounter?
GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 3-1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Robert Lewandowski)
Wow! Literally from kickoff Bayern hoof the ball forward and Lewandowski chases. The two BVB centre-backs part down the middle and allow him through on goal to collect the forward pass. Burki is left stranded and the Polish striker blasts comically into the net from a matter of yards out.
Dortmund have a huge way to go now thanks to some woeful defending from Hummels and Sokratis. What can the visitors do now? Can they find something going forward? Bayern think not as they come forward through Gotze who is soon wrestled out of possession. A change is on its way...
The away side try to respond through Gundogan who charges forward through the middle. He soon feeds Aubameyang out on the right channel, but his cross into the middle is cleared by Boateng.
SUBSTITUTES: Reus and Januzaj are brought on in place of Castro and Kagawa. Can they change this for Borussia?
Munich are looking to take the string out of proceedings at the moment with some slow build-up play from the back. Dortmund cannot quite get their foot on the ball in the second half, but they have made two important changes to try and impact things.
CLOSE! It should be four... Burki races out once more and is outdone by Muller, who then cuts the ball across the box to Gotze at the back post. Having beaten the defenders, the youngster only has an empty net to tap into but he somehow lifts the ball over the crossbar.
SHOT! Reus finds himself with a bit of space towards the back-post in the Bayern area. The chance is not an easy one on the volley, and the substitute can only send his strike across the face of goal and wide.
GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 4-1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Robert Lewandowski)
Pure Bayern, this one! Gotze gambles well down the right flank to get the beating of his marker. He might be a touch offside, just as Hummels protests, but the youngster moves forward to send a ball across the face of the box, where Lewandowski breaks free to finish smartly into the bottom corner past a stranded Burki. Game over, surely...
The home side are managing to find space everywhere now as Costa jinks inside to fire a low shot into Burki, who is able to get his weight behind it. Dortmund have arguably thrown this away with some terrible defending and poor decision-making at the back. Bayern have been masterful in the final third, however, taking every chance put offered to them.
CLOSE! Costa comes inside once more and this time the winger bends his effort towards the far post, but his shot is met by a diving Burki and the goalkeeper is able to push away the effort from danger.
MISS! Shocking from Mkhitaryan, who should have the beating of Neuer after being left unmarked inside the area. The chance comes as Bayern step up to a Gundogan pass, only for the winger to steal in behind. The wideman should do much better, but can only fire his effort across the face of goal and wide of the post.
GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 5-1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Mario Gotze)
And there we have it, Munich make them pay! Thiago shows great determination inside the area to win the ball and slip in Gotze, who keeps his composure to take one touch before firing into the bottom corner past a hapless Burki.
This could get really messy in the final 20 minutes of this encounter as Dortmund look totally shell-shocked. They have thrown this game away and Munich have jumped on every mistake. BVB have needed a leader out there and have since been found wanting.
SAVE! Neuer is called into his first bit of real action when Mkhitaryan breaks in with space down the left. The winger moves into the box to fire towards the far corner, where the Bayern keeper is able to dive across and tip wide.
BVB show some good movement on the edge of the area as Gundogan is able to win a free kick with the use of quick feet. Reus is over the set-piece, but his curling effort fails to test Neuer who stands still as the ball flies over the bar.
SUBSTITUTE: Youngster Joshua Kimmich comes on to replace Alonso in the middle of the park, that is a measure of just how much confidence Pep has in his side this afternoon.
YELLOW CARD! Boateng goes into the book for a pull on Aubameyang's shirt on the edge of the area. BVB have a good free kick here!
Januzaj takes the set-piece on this occasion and is able to bend a low effort through the wall and towards goal. Neuer has it covered, though, and he is able to push away the danger from the centre of his goal frame. Aubameyang goes into the book too for a rather late crunch on Vidal.
SUBSTITUTE: Another change for Bayern as Pep introduces 19-year-old Kingsley Coman in place of Muller, who has grabbed two goals in this encounter.
CLOSE! Vidal breaks into space inside the area and he seeks to slip in Lewandowski for his hat-trick, but Hummels is able to get a foot in and stop the goal. It is a shame that he has left it this late to take control of things with his side four goals behind.
Bayern are not letting up in the dying embers of the game, this time as youngster Coman breaks down the right channel. He has the beating of Piszczek, although nobody is in the middle to meet his cross.
The hosts just drop off the pace for a second, leaving Mkhitaryan to find some room on the edge of the Munich area. HIs shot is decent, but Neuer is equal to it down in the bottom-left corner. This game has been over for a while now...
More attacking movement from Bayern this time, and it is Coman who does well again down the right. It looks like he may shoot, before cutting the pass back into the path of Vidal in the centre. The Chilean is perhaps caught a little surprised and his effort flies high over the crossbar with Burki stranded in the centre.
FULL TIME: BAYERN MUNICH 5-1 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
What a wonderful performance from Pep's charges, who were so clinical in both halves. Bayern did not have to do too much, however, given that Borussia made so many mistakes at the back. You have to give Munich credit, though, as they buried every chance that was handed to them. Bayern now move seven points clear and have sent out a huge message for the remainder of the season. That is going to be all from me today, thanks for joining us!
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
