Sancho misses out on Ultimate Klassiker XI between Bayern and Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich sit level on points at the top of the Bundesliga after six league matches this season with only goal difference separating the pair. Bayern have been in rampant form in front of goal, bagging 24 goals after six matches, an average of four per game, but will face their staunchest test yet when the travel to a Dortmund side that has kept five clean sheets in 2020/21 and conceded just twice.
Understandably, three of the back four in the WhoScored combined XI ply their trande for Borussia Dortmund. Summer arrival Thomas Meunier (6.94) keeps Benjamin Pavard (6.63) out of the squad at right-back while a centre-back partnership of Mats Hummels (7.83) and Manuel Akanji (7.27) is deserved considering Dortmund's defensive resolve this term.
Bayern Munich's Lucas Hernandez (7.17) ensures it's not a Dortmund clean sweep in defence, with the Frenchman boasting a better WhoScored rating than Raphael Guerreiro (7.07). Between the sticks, Manuel Neuer (6.53) takes the place of Roman Burki (6.53). The duo boast the same WhoScored rating this season, but the former takes the spot in place of the latter having made two more appearances in 2020/21, with Neuer seeking a Bundesliga record-equalling 196th clean sheet.
It's a Bayern foursome in the midfield, and it bodes well for Germany ahead of the international break. Former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane (7.47) keeps another ex-City man Jadon Sancho (7.41) out of the side on the right flank, while Serge Gnabry (7.53) pips Giovanni Reyna (7.36) to the left winger spot.
Thomas Muller (7.91) and Joshua Kimmich (7.84) form a fine midfield partnership and there are no prizes for guessing the front two in this XI. Robert Lewandowski (8.77) features alongside Erling Haaland (7.92) on the frontline with the duo the top two best rated players in the Bundesliga this season.
There's a combined 15 goals and five assists between the two in this combined XI in what is expected to be the key battle in Saturday's kick off. Bayern Munich earned a 1-0 win in this game last season to effectively end Borussia Dortmund's title push and Lucien Favre's side will be looking to exact revenge this weekend and move clear at the top of the table heading into the international break.
