Der Klassiker : Dortmund vs Bayern Munich - How the chances of Dortmund to win this match

Since 2018, Dortmund have not won a league game against their fierce rivals, a run of seven fixtures. In that time and over the last decade, Bayern have been the dominant force in German football winning 10 titles in a row.

It's been four years of misery in Germany's biggest fixture for Borussia Dortmund, but with Bayern Munich showing a few signs of weakness in the Bundesliga this season, is it time for an upset in Der Klasiker on Saturday?

We may only be in October, but neither side occupies top spot in the league - that accolade goes to the surprising Union Berlin. Both sides also go into this game level on points, 15, giving this weekend's derby a real sense of anticipation.

If Dortmund can finally break their run of losses against the reigning Bundesliga champions, it could go a long way to proving that the league is not made for just one club.

But, how can they do this? They are without a dominant striker having seen the fearsome Erling Haaland leave for Manchester City in the summer and his replacement, Sebastian Haller, tragically ruled out indefinitely with cancer.

Not only this but talisman, Marco Reus, has been ruled out until the winter break and Mats Hummels (33) - the experienced centre-back - is unlikely to feature through illness.

A depleted squad up against Bayern's rested stars feels like a recipe for disaster for Dortmund, but there is still hope to be found.

It comes in the shape of Bayern's Bundesliga record. So far this year, they have already dropped points in four games - three draws and a defeat to lowly Augsburg. To put that into perspective, across the whole of last season, the tally was just 10 games (five draws, five defeats). They feel defensively weaker this year.

For Dortmund, their biggest worry will be at the other end of the pitch. The system employed by Julian Nagelsmann this season is, on paper at least, a 4-4-2. However, in reality, it is fluid, with both forwards and the two wide players interchanging regularly. It is a potent system, in midweek they put five past Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.

If the hosts are to succeed, they need to employ a low block, play narrow and not allow the Bayern forwards time to find a dangerous pass. Key to this will be Niklas Sule (27) and Nico Schlotterbeck (22). The pairing faces their biggest test on Saturday and they will have to be organised and composed in defence if they are to get anything out of the game.

In front of them, a pacey front four will need Jude Bellingham (19) to show, once again, why he is so revered across Europe. His directness will be used to cut through Bayern's midfield and spring Dortmund's forwards on the counter.

Bayern will need to be careful after half-time. They have conceded a third of their goals between the 45th minute and the 60th, suggesting they struggle to remain disciplined throughout the game.

If Dortmund can withstand the pressure in the first half, this will be the time to attack. Youssoufa Moukoko (17) - one of their young sensations - has already shown he can be lethal and they will need him to step into the spotlight. His last goal came against Schalke - Dortmund's biggest local rivals - suggesting he is more than capable of upping his performances in the most raucous of atmospheres.

Keeping Jamal Musiala (19) and Sadio Mane (30) quiet will be pivotal if they are to gain a result too. The inclusion of Emre Can (28) could be a way to deal with this. The defensive midfielder must anchor the midfield and provide a pivot to move the ball onto central midfield partner Bellingham.

They could also pack the midfield and play a defensive 4-3-3 to limit those spaces in the midfield, which would also give the young England international more space to roam.

Both teams picked up wins in midweek and go into the fixture with a confident air around them. If Dortmund are to upset the odds, it could show that the Bundesliga has more drama than we bargained for this season.