Red-hot Harry Kane scored a goal and helped set up another as Bayern Munich won their first Klassiker and three tries with a 2-1 triumph over Borussia Dortmund at at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
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Julian Brandt came off the bench to deliver a goal for BVB, but it was too little, too late, as a miserable first half helped deliver a loss to Niko Kovac’s men against his former club.
Bayern move seven points clear of Dortmund early this season as Michael Olise also scored for the Bavarians.
Dortmund finish Saturday in fourth place with 14 points, just above Bayer Levekusen on goal differential.
Unsure Kovac left to wonder ‘What if?’
Bayern Munich are a powerhouse, a wagon, a team full of studs. They earned their 2-0 lead as Vincent Kompany went for glory while former boss Niko Kovac opted for a defense-first approach that left the visitors on their Black and Yellow heels for nearly the duration of the half. The introduction of a more mobile defender at the break helped as Remy Bensebaini created more in 45 minutes than big center back Niclas Sule does in a few weeks, but Kovac waited until the 73rd minute to make any more moves and it had to sting when Julian Brandt — so often a star for BVB — scored within a minute of his 84th-minute introduction. Dortmund can’t match the high-end players of Bayern this season, but Kovac didn’t really give his team a chance.
What’s next?
Bayern host Club Brugge on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League before traveling to Borussia Monchengladbach at 9:30am ET Saturday.
Dortmund go to Copenhagen on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, then hosting Koln in league play at 12:30pm Saturday.
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund final score: 2-1
Harry Kane 22', Michael Olise 79', Julian Brandt 85'
Bayern sub
Min-jae Kim comes in to firm up the back in place of Aleksandar Pavlovic.
Julian Brandt goal — Bayern 2-1 Dortmund
Well how about that!?
Brandt knifes a Ryerson cross over the line with essentially his first meaningful touch of the game.
Dortmund, Munich subs
Guirassy and Gross exit in favor of Fabio Silva and Julian Brandt.
For Bayern, Sacha Boey leaves for Tom Bischof.
Michael Olise goal — Bayern Munich 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Harry Kane sends a 70-yard dime from the right side, deep in his own half to cue a rush down the left side.
The ball is sent into the middle and Jobe Bellingham is slow to clear the danger.
His clearance rockets off a sliding Olise and over the line. Industry.
Jobe Bellingham doesn't clear it in time and Olise slides it into the back of the net for Bayern ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/mfqRr5FBfd
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 18, 2025
Better from Dortmund
Remy Bensebaini replaced Sule at the break and Dortmund look a lot brighter and more agile while limiting the attack-first threat of Bayern. Of course, Bensebaini has also already found his way into the book with a yellow card.
Max Beier and Jobe Bellingham enter for Bellingham and Sabitzer, while Leon Goretzka’s replaced Nicolas Jackson.
Close for Dortmund!
BVB nearly have an answer after the break, as we have a sign of life.
The Black and Yellow get an intriguing free kick from deep in Bayern’s end, and Felix Nmecha gets up to turn a header wide of the frame in the 49th minute!
Halftime — Bayern Munich 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Kovac has to make a stylistic or personnel change, or this one is already done.
All Bayern
Kovac is going to be hoping he can reach halftime down one, because it’s not looking like Dortmund have any idea how to keep the ball let alone get it into the Bayern end.
Michael Olise nearly makes it 2-0 and right now it only looks like the next goal is coming from one place.
BVB’s team is defense-first, and the bench does feature Julian Brandt, Jobe Bellingham, Max Beier, and Fabio Silva as attackers. Ex-Chelsea man Carney Chukwuemeka could affect the midfield and Remy Bensebaini may soon be called into action thanks to an early yellow card to Julian Ryerson.
Kane’s red-hot form
The 32-year-old forward scored twice for England as they sealed qualification to the World Cup with a win over Latvia at midweek, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Kane has 19 goals and three assists in 11 games for Bayern this young season.
Harry Kane goal (video) — Bayern Munich 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
If there’s anyone hotter than Erling Haaland, it’s Harry Kane.
The English forward turns a header past Gregor Kobel after getting in between Niclas Sule and Serhou Guirassy on a corner kick attempt.
Kane creates a little extra room with a lower back shove on Guirassy and turns past the keeper to cue “Galop Infernal” from the Allianz Arena PA.
OF COURSE IT'S HARRY KANE TO OPEN THE SCORING IN DER KLASSIKER 💥 pic.twitter.com/QLHsrNvWVn
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 18, 2025
Bayern with the ball but chances at a premium
The Bavarians’ possession through about a quarter hour is over 85% and they have all three of the game’s shot attempts.
That’s not a surprise given Niko Kovac has opted for a solid, sound lineup over flair while Vincent Kompany found a way to start Harry Kane, Nicolas Jackson, Luis Diaz, and Michael Olise.
Bayern Munich lineup
Neuer, Boey, Upamecano, Tah, Pavlovic, Laimer, Kimmich, Olise, Diaz, Jackson, Kane
Borussia Dortmund lineup
Kobel, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Ryerson, Gross, Sabitzer, Svensson, Nmecha, Adeyemi, Guirassy
Bayern vs Dortmund preview
Vincent Kompany and Bayern are a perfect 6-0-0 to start the Bundesliga season, scoring 25 goals and conceding three. They’ve yet to concede a goal at home in league play as UEFA Champions League visitors Chelsea are the only away side to score in Munich.
So, yeah, throw in the German Cup, UCL, and German Supercup and Bayern Munich are 10-0-0 with +30 goal differential.
Dortmund are also yet to lose, though they’ve drawn three matches between the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League (St. Pauli, Juventus, RB Leipzig). They are four points back of their Klassiker rivals after six match days and won’t get another look at the Bavarians unless drawn together in a cup until late February.
Bayern have actually not beaten Dortmund in three tries dating back to Match 30, 2024, though both of last season’s fixtures were score draws (2-2 at the Allianz Arena, 1-1 at the Westfalenstadion).
Bayern Munich team news, focus
Bayern are absolutely flying, with Harry Kane scorching the league to the tune of 11 goals and three assists. Luis Diaz has transitioned from Liverpool with aplomb, scoring five times with four assists. Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise have both also been strong in attack and newcomer Jonathan Tah looks good at the back. Thirty-nine year old Manuel Neuer continues to stand the test of time between the sticks.
OUT: Alphonso Davies (knee), Hiroki Ito (unspecified), Jamal Musiala (leg) | QUESTIONABLE: Josip Stanisic (knee), Raphael Guerreiro (knock)
Borussia Dortmund team news, focus
Dortmund haven’t struggled to deliver goals but their stength has been at the back, at least in league play where they blanked four opponents prior to October 4’s 1-1 draw with Leipzig. Serhou Guirassy leads the line with four goals and an assist while Nico Scholtterbeck has been very good in Kovac’s back line, often a back three. Jobe Bellingham is also impressing at the former club of his more-celebrated brother Jude.
OUT: Aaron Anselmino (muscular), Emre Can (groin), Julian Duranville (shoulder)
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund prediction
Dortmund are underdogs, to be sure, but this occasion is almost always tighter than expected and Kovac can boast last season’s 2-2 draw in this same venue. That, however, is not part of a glorious track record for the former Bayern manager; Kovac is 1W-2D-7L against Bayern as boss of BVB, Wolfsburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt. Kompany has yet to collect a win in this rivalry. Will he wait longer? Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund.
