Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany says victory has been achieved der classic The match against Borussia Dortmund deserves a title in itself.
The top two in the Bundesliga face each other on Saturday and Bayern will look to increase the gap to their nearest rivals to 11 points.
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“This is a classic. It has its own importance, and at the moment it’s a top-of-the-table match, we can make it as big as we can,” Kompany said in his pre-match press conference.
“It’s important for the Bundesliga that it’s a big event – teams shouldn’t be afraid, but we need teams that say ‘I want to beat Dortmund.’ And Dortmund should think the same way.
“That’s what makes it so important, it’s the way it should be. I’ve said from the beginning that classic A title in itself. In fact, these games are so important that they deserve their own little title.
“The result will not change our mentality, we want to keep moving forward. We are on a good path and want to fight to keep it that way.”
Dortmund are reeling from a Champions League exit at the hands of Atalanta in midweek after blowing a 2-0 lead in the first leg.
“It’s obviously a blow and it was the kind of game where Dortmund could have gone ahead, so obviously it always has a mental impact, but what happens from this can go either way,” Kompany said.
“It’s in our control how we approach this game and we had a good week. We felt it was a classic Week. There were moments when we got this healthy poison in training that I love.
“We have done everything right in the game and we want to continue that in the game.”
Dortmund is the only team not to lose at home in the Bundesliga this season. Bayern still have to be beaten.
Goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer is doubtful after suffering a calf muscle injury two weeks ago. Backup Jonas Urbig played a role in last week’s 3-2 win over Frankfurt.
“For me (Neuer’s recovery) is going really well but maybe it’s not for tomorrow,” Kompany said. “Nevertheless, I would like to talk to Manu about this once again.”
With Neuer’s future still unclear before his contract expires at the end of the season, this could be the 39-year-old goalkeeping great’s last classic For Bayern.
Hiroki Ito is out “at the moment” with a hamstring injury. It is the latest injury blow for the defender, who was out from March to November due to a recurrence of an earlier fracture in his foot.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said his players were keen to move on from their defensive troubles against Atalanta and focus on “a 100% good game from start to finish tomorrow”.
“I have to say we’re looking forward to it, everybody, the whole team, the whole staff,” Kovac said. “We obviously want to show a completely different side of ourselves to the one we showed in Bergamo (against Atalanta).”
Kovac said Dortmund will be without defender Niklas Sule, who also missed the Atalanta game with a thigh injury.
PA and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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