Der Klassiker

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The rivalry between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund became prevalent during the 1990s. In 2011–12, Dortmund won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with Bayern finishing runners-up in both competitions; Dortmund clinched the league title in a home match where bananas were tossed at Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. In 2012–13, Bayern bested Dortmund for both trophies, as well as the DFL-Supercup. Just before Dortmund's Champions League semi-final, it was announced that one of their homegrown stars, Mario Götze, would make a €37 million transfer to Bayern for the upcoming 2013–14 season, a move that some felt would have put more distance between wealthy Bayern and the rest of the Bundesliga. The final 2012–13 Bundesliga game between the two clubs was a 1–1 draw marked by acrimony as Bayern's Rafinha was sent off for elbowing Dortmund's Jakub Blaszczykowski, sparking an argument on the touchline between Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp and Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer. The press has used terms like 'power shift' and 'changing of the guard' after Dortmund and Bayern eliminated Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, in the Champions League semi-finals. In 2003, Bayern provided a €2 million loan without collateral to the nearly bankrupt Dortmund which has since been repaid.

In Their Own Story

The 2013 UEFA Champions League final was the first all-German final in the history of the Champions League (and European Cup). It took place on Saturday, 25 May 2013, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, between German Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Bayern won the match 2–1 with goals from Mario Mandžukić and man of the match Arjen Robben coming either side of an İlkay Gündoğan penalty for Dortmund. One week later, Bayern won the 2012–13 DFB-Pokal and, having already won the 2012–13 Bundesliga, completed the continental treble. As a result of their Champions League win, Bayern qualified to play against Chelsea, the winners of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League, in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, and also earned the right to enter the semi-finals of the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup as the UEFA representative. They would eventually go on to win both competitions. A viewership of 21.6 million on the German ZDF and over 360 million worldwide has been reported, making it the most watched sports broadcast of 2013.

Reader's Guide

Der Klassiker is the heated rivalry between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, known in Germany as Der Klassiker, which became prevalent during the 1990s. In 2011–12, Dortmund won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with Bayern finishing runners-up in both competitions; Dortmund clinched the league title in a home match where bananas were tossed at Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. In 2012–13, Bayern bested Dortmund for both trophies, as well as the DFL-Supercup. Just before Dortmund's Champions League semi-final, it was announced that one of their homegrown stars, Mario Götze, would make a €37 million transfer to Bayern for the upcoming 2013–14 season, a move that some felt would have put more distance between wealthy Bayern and the rest of the Bundesliga. The final 2012–13 Bundesliga game between the two clubs was a 1–1 draw marked by acrimony as Bayern's Rafinha was sent off for elbowing Dortmund's Jakub Blaszczykowski, sparking an argument on the touchline between Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp and Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer. The press has used terms like 'power shift' and 'changing of the guard' after Dortmund and Bayern eliminated Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, in the Champions League semi-finals. In 2003, Bayern provided a €2 million loan without collateral to the nearly bankrupt Dortmund which has since been repaid.

Did You Know?

• In 2003, Bayern provided a €2 million loan without collateral to the nearly bankrupt Dortmund which has since been repaid.
• Dortmund clinched the 2011–12 Bundesliga title in a home match where bananas were tossed at Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
• Just before Dortmund's Champions League semi-final, it was announced that Mario Götze would make a €37 million transfer to Bayern for the 2013–14 season.
• The final 2012–13 Bundesliga game between the two clubs was a 1–1 draw marked by acrimony as Bayern's Rafinha was sent off for elbowing Dortmund's Jakub Blaszczykowski.
• The press used terms like 'power shift' and 'changing of the guard' after Dortmund and Bayern eliminated Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, in the Champions League semi-finals.