A Klassiker explainer: why is the match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund so important?

An explainer on why Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund has become one of football's biggest fixtures, tracing the rivalry's recent origins and competitive balance.

The Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is one of world football's heavyweight contests, but unlike Spain's Clásico or Argentina's Superclásico, it is not rooted in political or social divisions. Instead, the rivalry stems from the two clubs being each other's biggest domestic competitor, similar to Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille in France.

Historically, the fixture was one-sided. Bayern dominated the 1960s and 1970s, winning 11 Bundesliga titles to Dortmund's none during that period. The Bavarians recorded their biggest Bundesliga victory ever with an 11-1 thrashing of BVB in the 1970s. During the same decade, Bayern won three consecutive European Cups while Dortmund spent four consecutive seasons in the second tier.

The dynamic shifted in the 1990s under former Dortmund manager Ottmar Hitzfeld. After finishing 10th in 1990/91, Dortmund climbed rapidly, beating Bayern 3-0 both home and away in 1991/92 while the Bavarians finished 10th. Dortmund claimed their first Bundesliga title in 1994/95, finishing six points clear of Bayern, and defended it the following season. This period marked the true emergence of the Klassiker as a genuine rivalry between the Bundesliga's two biggest clubs.