While Der Klassiker doesn't carry the same weight as Europe's other top footballing battles, despite the best efforts of the Bundesliga's marketing team, it deserves its place at the head of the list. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been the two stand-out sides in German's top-flight in recent history - although the Bavarian side are the current dominant force.
However, this season, Dortmund's title threat has been almost non-existent. They are 13 points adrift of top spot and they have lost the challenger spot to RB Leipzig. While a Leipzig/Bayern title battle may feel like 'a rock and a hard place' for many, it can only be a positive if someone does come along and finally stops Bayern from winning the crown once again.
While Dortmund's form has picked up in recent weeks, they have been facing teams they are expected to beat while Bayern have largely seen a constant stream of points on their tally. The hosts are odds-on, and it's difficult to argue against their price but it could well be a game with goals as has been the case in so many of their previous meetings.
Bayern don't lose to Dortmund at the Allianz Arena. They have won their last three meetings by scorelines of 4-0, 5-0 and 6-0 and have also won the last four contests between the two. Dortmund's DFB Pokal win in 2017 remains their only successful visit in the last seven trips south.
April 2014 was the last time there was a Bundesliga win for Dortmund in an away game against Bayern. Since then, the Bavarians have won all six meetings and it seems to now be a fairly comfortable fixture for them. With short odds in the outright market, it's worth noting that 11 of the last 13 games between these two have seen over 2.5 goals, ten of those have been over 3.5 with seven seeing five or more goals in 90 minutes.
It's also a great price for the each-way value that comes with it as well. If he gets a goal anytime it pays out at 6/1, odds that are too generous based on recent showings. Remarkably, of his five goals for club this season, four have been the second goal of the game, with his strike against Lokomotiv Moscow being the first.
Goretzka's goal against Ukraine for Germany was also the second of the game. While the majority of his goals would have landed the each-way places, it does show that when he scores it is early into the game and it's still worth taking the first goalscorer odds on offer. It's a significantly more appealing path than the 2/5 across the board on Robert Lewandowski scoring anytime.
He has done this in the past and it's a bet worth backing on the basis of it becoming a high-scoring game. We know that this is typically a high-scoring fixture with the majority going in Bayern's favour. Only Lewandowski (0.41 xG) had a better chance for Bayern than Goretzka (0.38) in the last meeting between the two teams, which finished 3-2 to the champions.
Only four of Goretzka's 17 Bundesliga appearances this season have failed to bring a shot while eight have seen two or more - including that victory over Dortmund. The prices on offer have greatly underestimated the attacking threat that he possesses.
If, for whatever reason, Goretzka isn't involved, then it's better to back goals in the contest rather than Bayern's outright price. 15/8 is available on over 4.5 goals, and while that is a very high line by usual standards, this fixture rarely disappoints.
Score Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-2 Borussia Dortmund ()
Odds correct at 1230 GMT (03/03/21)
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit .
Further support and information can be found at and .