Bayern, Dortmund face off in Bundesliga with top spot at stake

Gene Principe, Alex Seixeiro, Dan Riccio discuss if Bayern will see their dominant run in the ‘Der Klassiker’ come to an end this weekend.

A jam-packed weekend in the Bundesliga is highlighted by Der Klassiker as German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund face off Saturday with top spot in the division on the line.

But Der Klassiker isn't the only juicy matchup on the schedule.

Here's everything you need to know for Matchday 7.

HOW TO WATCH

Saturday, Nov. 7
• Mainz vs. Schalke, 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet World, SN Now+)
• RB Leipzig vs. Freiburg, 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet)
• Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich, 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet, Sportsnet World)

Sunday, Nov. 8
• Wolfsburg vs. Hoffenheim, 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet World, SN Now+)
• Bayer Leverkusen vs. Monchengladbach, 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT (Sportsnet, Sportsnet World)

BUNDESLIGA TABLE

MARQUEE MATCH

Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich

As is often the case when these two sides square off, there's plenty at stake in the 2020-21 season's first Der Klassiker. The winner would take over sole possession of first place in the division, while the loser could fall down to third depending on how RB Leipzig fares in its match against Freiburg.

And as is also often the case in Der Klassiker, Bayern and Dortmund enter Saturday's massive clash in fantastic form. Since both teams suffered shock losses on Matchday 2 in late September – Bayern fell 4-1 to Hoffenheim a day after Augsburg beat Dortmund 2-0 – neither have lost a league match, outscoring opponents by a combined 25-5 in the four matchdays since.

Coupled with some impressive victories in the Champions League mid-week, these two rivals are red hot and both will expect to take all three points in what should be a high-scoring affair.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich, AND Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund

In a match of this magnitude, it's all about the goal-scorers, and Bayern and Dortmund boast two of the world's best in that department.

Lewandowski, the Bundesliga's leading scorer with 10 goals, will take the pitch in Saturday's Der Klassiker having found the back of the net 11 times in his last six matches for Bayern, plus two more in a Nations League game for Poland. Those 13 goals over an eight-match span include a four-goal game, a hat trick and three two-goal matches.

Haaland only has half the goals in the Bundesliga that Lewandowski does, still good for third-most in Germany's top flight, but the Norwegian superstar has at least a goal in six of his last seven appearances for Dortmund, including a pair of braces.

It's safe to say if Der Klassiker serves up a classic on Saturday, these two will be involved.

REST OF MATCHDAY 7

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Monchengladbach: Another must-watch match on this week's Bundesliga schedule, fourth-place Leverkusen hosts fifth-place Gladbach as the pair battle once again for Germany's final Champions League place. Leverkusen has yet to lose this season, while Gladbach hasn't lost since the opening matchday.

RB Leipzig vs. SC Freiburg: Julian Nagelsmann's Leipzig bounced back from its first league loss of the campaign last weekend with with a mid-week win over PSG in the Champions League. If Leipzig gets three points vs. one-win Freiburg this weekend and there's a draw in Der Klassiker, Leipzig reclaims top spot.

Mainz vs. Schalke: Schalke's seemingly endless league winless run has now stretched to 22 matches – the Gelsenkirchen-based club hasn't won in the Bundesliga since January 17. However, there's no better chance to end that run than at Mainz, who have yet to earn a single point this season.

Wolfsburg vs. Hoffenheim: After winning their first two matches of the campaign, including a shocking 4-1 win over Bayern, Hoffenheim has collected just one of a possible 12 points from their last four matches. On the flipside, Wolfsburg is one of just two unbeaten teams in the division, but have only one win and five draws.

Augsburg vs. Hertha: Heiko Herrlich's Augsburg finds itself just two points back of the last Champions League spot and could jump up into fifth this weekend should Leverkusen and Gladbach draw on Sunday.

Stuttgart vs. Eintracht Frankfurt: Two of the four teams currently populating the muddy middle of the Bundesliga table with nine points, a win for either side could put the victor in the early hunt for top-four places.

Union Berlin vs. Arminia: Without a loss since the first weekend of the campaign, eighth-place Union Berlin hosts Arminia, who have lost four straight since taking four points from the first two games in the Bundesliga after gaining promotion over the summer.

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