Top five Der Klassikers as Dortmund host Bayern

The opening Der Klassiker of the season takes place when Borussia Dortmund host Bayern Munich on Saturday. 

It is one of the most highly anticipated clashes between the rivals in years, with both unbeaten in the Bundesliga having fought for the title down to the wire in 2022-23. 

Ahead of the latest instalment of Germany's biggest fixture, we take a look back at the best Der Klassikers. 

5. Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, 2011-12)

This was perhaps the starting point of Der Klassiker really infiltrating the mindset of football fans around the world as Jurgen Klopp's league champions honed in on another title. 

With five games of the Bundesliga season remaining, Die Schwarzgelben were top of the table and three points ahead of their rivals. 

Future Bayern legend Robert Lewandowski put the hosts 1-0 up and Arjen Robben had the chance to equalise from the spot in the dying seconds only for Roman Weidenfeller to save his penalty. 

4. Borussia Dortmund 1-5 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, 2009-10)

Bayern would win the title in Louis van Gaal's debut season but this victory is notable for the birth of a figure who became much more instrumental in their long-term success. 

Thomas Muller had only played a handful of games for the Bavarians when he came on as a second-half substitute in this September Der Klassiker. 

He scored the first two goals of his professional career, with the second being a 25-yard stunner that capped off a 5-1 rout. 

3. Borussia Dortmund 4-4 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, 1982-83)

Though this game took place before the clubs really became rivals, it is undoubtedly one of the finest matches between the two teams. 

The first half was relatively calm at 1-1, though Marcel Raducanu's sublime free-kick for Dortmund hinted at the fireworks that were to come. 

In total, Bayern were ahead three times, with the hosts continually pegging them back and eventually going 4-3 up. 

An equaliser from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge saw the thriller end 4-4. 

2. Borussia Dortmund 5-2 Bayern Munich (DFB Pokal final, 2011-12)

One week after winning the Bundesliga title, Dortmund completed the double in a German cup final Der Klassiker. 

Klopp's side were 3-1 ahead at the break, with goals from Shinji Kagawa, Mats Hummels and Lewandowski, as Robben replied for Bayern. 

Franck Ribery scored the best goal of the match in the second half but this game belonged to Dortmund, with Lewandowski completing a hat-trick to give the club their first and only double. 

1. Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (Champions League final, 2012-13)

As revenge for the 2011-12 season goes, Bayern's response in the subsequent campaign was pretty sweet, going one better to win a Treble. 

Having already secured the Bundesliga by 25 points, Jupp Heynckes' team captured their second trophy with a Champions League final win at Wembley against Dortmund. 

Mario Mandzukic gave Bayern the lead after an hour and though Ilkay Gundogan equalised with a penalty, Robben scored late to clinch victory. 

Days later, they would beat Stuttgart in the DFP Pokal final.