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Der Klassiker lived up to its legendary billing as Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich delivered a rollercoaster of a contest at Signal Iduna Park. From a tense and tactical first half, where Dortmund struck first through a Schlotterbeck header, to a second half bursting with goals, drama, and late heroics, this 3–2 thriller had everything fans could hope for: penalties, volleys, controversial moments, and a last-minute winner.
Here is our detailed match report for the game:
Match report
From kick-off, Bayern made their intentions clear. The visitors applied relentless pressure and, in the opening ten minutes, appeared to enjoy near-total control of the ball. Dortmund were pinned deep inside their own half, struggling to find relief against Bayern’s aggressive pressing and quick circulation.
Yet whenever Bayern misplaced a pass, the stadium erupted. The home crowd sensed opportunity and Dortmund immediately looked to break at speed, feeding off the energy from the stands.
One tactical detail stood out early: Yan Couto shadowed Luis Díaz everywhere. Whether the Colombian had the ball or not, Couto stayed tight, rarely allowing him a moment’s freedom down the flank.
Schlotterbeck escapes red - then scores
The first major flashpoint came when Nico Schlotterbeck. who returned from injury for this match, caught Josip Stanišić with an open sole to the shin. Tempers flared, and a lengthy discussion followed. In the end, the referee opted for yellow - a decision that left Bayern players annoyed, with the challenge appearing dangerously close to red-card territory.
Moments later, irony struck.
In the 26th minute, it was Schlotterbeck - recently linked with a potential move to Bayern, even if speculation has cooled - who rose highest to meet a free-kick and power a header past Jonas Urbig. It was Dortmund’s first real opportunity of the match, and they took it clinically to make it 1-0.
Can forced off
Dortmund captain Emre Can endured a difficult half physically. The midfielder required treatment twice for problems with his left knee after slipping and, after a third stoppage shortly before the break, was forced to leave the field. Ramy Bensebaini replaced him.
Notably, Bensebaini and Serhou Guirassy had both started on the bench, with BVB coach Niko Kovač opting to manage their workload due to the physical demands of Ramadan.
Bayern struggle for response
Despite their dominance in possession, Bayern struggled to carve out clear chances after falling behind. Joshua Kimmich tested Gregor Kobel once from distance, but genuine danger was rare.
Compounding the unusual atmosphere, Bayern’s ultras were neither visible nor audible in Dortmund. Many were absent following reported altercations with police before the match.
At half-time, the storyline was clear: Bayern had the ball, Dortmund had the lead - and the “Klassiker” remained finely poised.
The restart to the second half immediately signalled a shift in tempo. Both sides came out with renewed energy, stretching the game and committing numbers forward. Within minutes, it was clear this would not remain a cagey affair.
One player who had barely featured in front of goal before the break was Harry Kane. That changed in the 54th minute. Bayern’s relentless overloading in attack finally carved Dortmund open, and Kane was perfectly positioned to tap home from close range to level the score at 1-1.
By the hour mark, the second half had already produced more shots on target than the entire first period. Der Klassiker was now in full flow. Dortmund responded with intent, as Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi both found promising pockets of space and tested Bayern’s defensive resolve.
Kane turns it around
Then came the turning point in the 64th minute.
Josip Stanišić was brought down in the penalty area by Nico Schlotterbeck, and the referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Amid deafening whistles from the stands, Kane stepped up. Gregor Kobel got a hand to the effort, but the strike had too much power. 2-1 to Bayern.
It was Kane’s second of the night and his fourth consecutive game with a brace - a statement performance on the biggest domestic stage.
With Bayern now ahead, tensions soared. Every challenge was roared at, every decision contested. The noise inside Signal Iduna Park intensified with every passing minute.
Chaos, then Kimmich’s moment
For a long stretch, momentum appeared firmly on Bayern’s side - until the 83rd minute.
A cross from Marcel Sabitzer seemed destined for Serhou Guirassy but instead sailed beyond him to Daniel Svensson. The defender reacted instinctively, meeting the ball on the volley and firing it into the net. 2-2! The stadium erupted. Another twist in a breathless Klassiker.
But the drama was not done.
In the 87th minute, Bayern struck again. A rebound fell invitingly to Joshua Kimmich at the edge of the box. With his weaker left foot, he connected sweetly on the volley and sent the ball crashing into the net.
There were some final attempts from Dortmund to get the draw, but it was too late - final result: BVB 2-3 FC Bayern.