Der Klassiker

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The first match between the two clubs was a 2–0 win for Dortmund in Munich on 16 October 1965. On 5 May 1966, Dortmund won the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Liverpool in extra time, becoming the first German club to win a European title. Bayern Munich won the same competition the following season. In 1971, Bayern defeated Dortmund 11–1; this remains Bayern's biggest Bundesliga victory and Dortmund's second worst defeat, after Dortmund's worst defeat of 12–0 v Borussia Mönchengladbach on 29 April 1978. The highest scoring draw in a Bundesliga match between the two teams occurred on 21 May 1983, when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge scored a late equaliser to save Bayern from a defeat against hosts Dortmund, with a final scoreline of 4–4. The rivalry grew during the 1990s, as Dortmund's stature increased to challenge perennial title favourites Bayern, winning two Bundesliga titles in 1994–95 and 1995–96. In 1996, Bayern captain Lothar Matthäus accused Germany teammate Andreas Möller of being a 'crybaby', wiping imaginary tears from his face; Möller reacted by slapping Matthäus. At the end of that season, Dortmund won the 1997 UEFA Champions League final which happened to be played at the Olympiastadion, Bayern's home ground. The teams met in the quarter-finals of the next edition of the Champions League, and Dortmund prevailed over two legs thanks to a single goal from Stéphane Chapuisat. That summer, Bayern hired Dortmund's successful coach Ottmar Hitzfeld to work for them. Tempers flared twice during Bayern and Dortmund's second meeting in the 1998–99 Bundesliga, as Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn first attempted a flying kung-fu kick at Chapuisat, and later appeared to bite Heiko Herrlich's ear. In the early 2000s both clubs remained successful, as Bayern lost one Champions League final (1999) then won another (2001) in addition to more domestic success, while Dortmund won the 2001–02 Bundesliga and reached the UEFA Cup final the same year. An angry 2001 league meeting between the pair was notable for ten yellow cards and three red being shown (a Bundesliga record for indiscipline). However, Dortmund soon fell heavily into debt, and a €2m loan from Bayern in 2004 played a small role in saving them from bankruptcy. On 19 April 2008, the two sides clashed in the 2008 DFB-Pokal final for the first time that took place in Berlin. Luca Toni opened the scoring

In Their Own Story

The modern rivalry began in the 2013–14 Premier League season. Liverpool, under Brendan Rodgers, and Manchester City, in their first season under Manuel Pellegrini, engaged in a three-way title race with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, with each team leading at various points in the season. Ultimately, City won the title on the last day of the season, finishing two points ahead of Liverpool. Neither Liverpool nor Manchester City made a serious challenge for the league title in the next three seasons, though during the 2015–16 season – Liverpool's first under manager Jürgen Klopp – the two met in the final of the League Cup. After a 1–1 draw in normal time and no goals scored in extra time, City won the penalty shoot-out 3–1. In the 2017–18 season, Manchester City – now managed by Pep Guardiola – comfortably won the league title with a top-flight record of 100 points, as well as winning the League Cup. They met Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with Liverpool winning 5–1 on aggregate. Liverpool would go on to reach the Champions League final, losing to Real Madrid. In the 2018–19 season, the rivalry between the two clubs reached new heights, as both Liverpool and Manchester City were involved in a very close title race. City won the league title on the final day, finishing on 98 points to Liverpool's 97 – the third- and fourth- highest points totals in English top-flight history. City also won the 2018–19 FA Cup and League Cup for an unprecedented 'domestic treble', while Liverpool won their English record-extending sixth European Cup with victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final. In the 2019–20 season, Manchester City defeated Liverpool on penalties in the 2019 FA Community Shield and also won their third League Cup in a row. Liverpool, however, dominated the league season, and after City's defeat to Chelsea in June, Liverpool mathematically won their nineteenth league title (and first in the Premier League era), finishing on 99 points, the second-highest total in English top-flight history. City finished in second, 18 points behind. In the 2020–21 season, Liverpool had a less successful season, losing many key players to injury. Manchester City won the league title comfortably, along with their fourth League Cup in a row. They also reached their first European Cup final, losing to Chelsea. In the 2021–22 season, Liverpool and Manchester City were once more involved in a close title race. City again won the league title on the final day, finishing on 93 points to Liverpool's 92. Liverpool won the League Cup and the FA Cup, knocking City out in the semi-finals of the latter competition. They also reached the final of the Champions League, losing again to Real Madrid. In the 2022–23 season, Liverpool beat Manchester City 3–1 in the 2022 FA Community Shield, but could not repeat the previous season's form in the league, ultimately finishing fifth. City enjoyed their most successful season to date, becoming just the second English side to win a 'continental treble' – the Premier League, FA Cup and their first Champions League, which they won by defeating Inter Milan in the final. They also knocked Liverpool out in the fourth round of the League Cup, before being knocked out themselves in the quarter-finals. In the 2023-24 season, City won their record fourth consecutive league title after a close race with Arsenal. Jürgen Klopp announced in January that this would be his final season with Liverpool, who won their record-extending tenth League Cup. In the 2024–25 season, Liverpool won their record-equalling twentieth English top flight league title under new manager Arne Slot. City did not win a major trophy for the first time since the 2016–17 season. In the 2025–26 season, for the first time since the 2016–17 season neither of them won the Premier League title. Arsenal won the league for the first time in 22 years instead of either of them. Manchester City won the League Cup and the FA Cup. It was also Pep Guardiola's last season at Manchester City.

Reader's Guide

As of 22 August 2026, the overall match statistics show Bayern Munich with 48 higher finishes in head-to-head Bundesliga rankings and Borussia Dortmund with 9. The biggest win for Bayern Munich is 11–1 on 27 November 1971; for Borussia Dortmund it is 4–0 on 6 March 1967. The clubs have met in Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, DFB-Ligapokal, DFL/Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, and UEFA Champions League competitions.

Did You Know?

• The first match between the clubs was a 2–0 win for Dortmund in Munich on 16 October 1965.
• Dortmund became the first German club to win a European title by winning the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup.
• Bayern's 11–1 win over Dortmund in 1971 remains Bayern's biggest Bundesliga victory.
• The 2013 UEFA Champions League final was the first time the term 'German Clasico' was used.
• Bayern loaned Dortmund €2 million in 2004 to help save them from bankruptcy.