Der Klassiker: Top five Bundesliga title-deciding German clasicos

The German heavyweights meet once again on Tuesday with only four points separating both teams at the top of the table.

When Borussia Dortmund take on Bayern Munich in what has become the pinnacle of German football, the entire country comes to a halt as it is very often a decisive Der Klassiker in the Bundesliga title race.

The two age-old rivals put aside the mutual respect for 90 minutes and engage in a battle of tactics and pure athleticism that has given us some of the best footballing contests in years gone by.

We at Khel Now take a look at the top five Der Klassikers in years gone by.

[KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

5. Borussia Dortmund 4-4 Bayern Munich (1982/1983)

Back in the day, when the Der Klassiker was just making a name for itself came this high scoring fluent footballing game that epitomized the two teams at the time. The two sides traded blows all game long and Dortmund came back into the game with minutes left on the clock to hold Bayern to a point.

A truly thrilling encounter. Enjoy this classic from 'Der Klassiker'

Bayern and Dortmund finished five points apart that season, with the latter just missing out on the European spots.

[KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

4. Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Bayern Munich (2011/2012)

The game between Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal Borussia Dortmund and the ever-efficient Munich side was one of the most important in recent history as it sealed an unprecedented second Bundesliga title on the bounce for Dortmund. Klopp had built a side that could take the ring with the very best with next to no resources at his disposal. The game had it all, with missed penalties and dramatic misses defining it. Arjen Robben was the centre of attention as he was brougt down in the box and also missed several chances to give his team a sliver of hope in the title race.

Ivan Perisic scored the only goal of the game

It was the mercurial touch of then Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski that gave the home side the lead, sending the yellow wall into raptures as they began to sense the possibility of a league title.

However, with five games to go in the season, the win gave Dortmund a six-point lead which all but delivered the title to the Signal Iduna Park.

[KH_ADWORDS type="2" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

3. Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (2014/2015)

In the season that spelt the end of Klopp’s reign at Dortmund, the side found themselves in the relegation zone after 10 games. The visitors took the lead in the first half with Marco Reus lashing the ball past Manuel Neuer after latching onto a Pierre Emerick Aubameyang cross, giving their fans some hope but the former Dortmund striker, Robert Lewandowski smashed Bayern in front against his former employers and all but put an end to Klopp’s title hopes in the first 10 games of the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_WZOq7c5l8

It was Jurgen Klopp's last season at Borussia Dortmund

A monumental effort in the second half of the season saw Dortmund finish second but a rampant Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola lifted the title that season. However, after seven years at the helm of the club, Klopp stepped down as head coach.

[KH_ADWORDS type="1" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

2. Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bayern Munich (1998/1999)

In one of the most controversial games in the history of the Bundesliga, Dortmund raced into a two-nil lead with both teams vying for the top spot in the league. Bayern’s outspoken goalkeeper was at the centre of it all, trying to bite Dortmund’s Heiko Herrlich and also Kung Fu kicking Stephane Chaupaisait.

https://youtu.be/DlTINyXh9v4

Munich came back in the second half to grab a point and with it, the Bundesliga title.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

1. Bayern Munich 1-3 Borussia Dortmund (2010/2011)

Borussia Dortmund had not beaten Bayern Munich on their home ground for 19 years prior to this game. Klopp’s team of quick, youthful players had got themselves in the perfect position to seal a Bundesliga title for the first time in nine years, holding a 13-point lead over their Bavarian rivals. Goals from Nuri Sahin,  Mats Hummels, and Lucas Barrios gave the visitors the three points and won them a historic league title that was essentially the birth of the Borussia Dortmund that we know today.

Dortmund did a league double against Bayern in 2010-11

The match on the 6th of April has a similar feel about it. When these two rivals take the pitch at the Allianz Arena, it is all up for grabs. The winner of that game will most likely lift the title come the end of the season. Can Dortmund overturn the Bavarian giants? Only time will tell.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter and join our community on Telegram.