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Sparks are set to fly in the 2020-21 Bundesliga on Saturday when two of the greatest sides in the competition, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, lock horns in the 128th Der Klassiker.
Both teams have made fine starts to their 2020-21 campaigns and currently have an identical record in the league with five wins and a loss apiece from their respective opening six games.
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have already clashed once this season, doing so in the DFL Supercup on 1st October, a nerve-jangling game the Bavarian giants clinched 3-2 in their favour at the Allianz Arena. With the teams set to renew acquaintances barely a month later, Dortmund may be itching to put one across their great rivals while Bayern Munich will look to continue their recent dominance over BVB in the Bundesliga.
Ahead of the mouth-watering game, let's have a look at how the two German behemoths would stack up in a hypothetical combined XI:
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Roman Burki has been Borussia Dortmund's undisputed number one for five years now and has established himself as one of the best in the business. However, Manuel Neuer's superior pedigree and incredible return to football's pinnacle after his horrific metatarsal injury in 2017 are the reasons why he gets the nod.
The 34-year-old Bavarian custodian, who is still conjuring his best under Hansi Flick, was one of the key players in Bayern Munich's historic continental treble last season. Even though Bayern Munich have looked a bit shaky at the back this season, Neuer continues to be an assured presence nonetheless.
Centre-back: Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund)
After an error-prone 2019-20 season that saw the Swiss international draw plenty of flak for his costly mistakes so much so that rumours of his possible exit started doing the rounds, Manuel Akanji is back in form and winning over his critics again.
Signed from Basel in January 2018, the 25-year old is an athletic player. He is also a strong tackler and a mater passer. He was on target against Schalke recently, demonstrating his otherwise underrated aerial prowess too.
Centre-back: Matts Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
Mats Hummels has spent his career moving back and forth between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. He returned to the Signal Iduna Park for a second stint last year. Contrary to the popular perception that he was on the wane, Hummels slotted seamlessly in BVB's backline and became a key figure for the side.
It was almost like he never left. In the ongoing 2020-21 season, the German international has elevated his game even further. Strong in the air and composed in possession, he's been scoring goals for his side too.
Mats Hummels has already netting thrice in the Bundesliga this season - as many as he had managed in three years at Bayern Munich.
Centre-back: David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
David Alaba is edging closer to a Bayern Munich exit after reportedly rejecting a contract extension at the club. However, that has not affected his on-field performances, which have continued to remain top-notch.
The Austrian has spent his entire playing career in Bavaria, but it is easy to forget at times that he is still only 28.
A model of consistency throughout the last decade, David Alaba has been solid defensively and has shown incredible versatility to thrive in a variety of roles across the backline as well as the midfield. His prowess at set-pieces is notable too; he has scored some brilliant free-kick goals in the not too distant past.
Right Winger: Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)
From struggling in the Premier League with minnows West Brom Albion to becoming a key component of Bayern Munich's treble-winning team, Serge Gnabry has certainly come a long way in recent times as he continues his development into a world-class winger.
The 25-year-old, who is lightening quick and skilful on the ball, is a deadly finisher and a picture of elegance when in full flow. Gnabry has made a solid start to the new season, scoring a hat-trick in the opening Bundesliga game against Schalke, his first - of possibly many - in the competition.
Central midfielder: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
After thriving as a marauding right-back during his early years at Bayern Munich, Joshua Kimmich has now cemented himself as a formidable central midfielder, thanks to his technical brilliance and elite passing range.
The 25-year old is adept at set-piece deliveries, and his goal contributions have also increased manifold since making the transition from defence. Kimmich has scored ten times and has made 24 assists since the start of the last season.
Central midfielder: Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
Borussia Dortmund have some good players in this position, but it's hard to ignore Leon Goretzka's growing influence at Bayern Munich. His physical transformation isn't the only thing that has caught everyone's attention; the German is fast turning into a truly world-class box-to-box midfielder.
Complemented by his powerful and athletic frame, the technically gifted and hard-working Goretzka offers an excellent attacking threat from set pieces and can score from range too. He has netted 21 times and provided 20 assists in all competitions for Bayern Munich since arriving from Schalke in 2018.
Left winger: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
It's just impossible to leave a player of the ilk of Jadon Sancho out of this lineup. Although he usually operates on the right wing, we have him on the left in our hypothetical team.
The 20-year old has the world at his feet, with every major European club vying for his signature since his meteoric rise to stardom with Der BVB.
The 20-year-old English sensation has broken multiple records at Borussia Dortmund since arriving from Manchester City in 2017. He was one of the best performers in Europe's top five leagues last season after notching 20 goals and as many assists apiece.
It's this staggering productivity that gets Sancho in this XI ahead of Kingsley Coman.
Attacking midfielder: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
A true Bayern Munich veteran, Thomas Muller quashed all perceptions of his supposed 'decline' by finding his best form under Hansi Flick and playing an instrumental role in guiding the Bavarians to treble glory last season.
In the process, Muller also broke the record for most assists in a Bundesliga campaign with 21. His ability to pick out pockets of space, for which he's fondly called the Raumdeuter, the interpreter of space, remains unparalleled.
Striker: Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Erling Haaland has been nothing short of sensational at Borussia Dortmund since his arrival from RB Salzburg in the winter transfer window earlier this year, enthralling the Signal Iduna Park faithful with his belligerent goal-scoring exploits.
He was the catalyst in helping his side finish second in the Bundesliga once again last season.
Haaland has since added another ten goals from as many games to his kitty this season, a tally that includes one against Bayern Munich in the Supercup last month.
Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Robert Lewandowski simply cannot stop scoring. One of the key players in Bayern Munich's treble-winning campaign last season, with 55 goals, Lewandowski has continued much in the same vein this season, having already netted ten goals in just five top-flight games, a tally that includes two hat-tricks.
No player in the world can hold a candle to Robert Lewandowski right now, considering the latter's red-hot form.
Ahead of the first Bundesliga Der Klassiker of the season, the Polish assassin would relish the prospect of going up against his former side, against whom he's scored at a phenomenal rate - 18 goals in 22 games - since leaving BVB in 2014.
