FEATURE | From fierce rivalry to global spectacle: How Der Klassiker has evolved since the early 2000s

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Few fixtures in German football have undergone a transformation quite like Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund. Today, Der Klassiker is marketed as the Bundesliga’s biggest attraction, bringing together two of Germany’s most recognisable clubs in a match followed by millions around the world.

However, the rivalry that supporters experienced at the beginning of the 2000s was considerably different from the spectacle we know in 2026. Back then, Bayern and Dortmund were already major competitors, but their encounters were defined more by sporting hostility, contrasting club identities and the battle for domestic supremacy than by the international branding surrounding the fixture today.

The early 2000s represented one of the most intense periods in the relationship between the two clubs. Their meetings became increasingly confrontational. While Bayern maintained their domestic dominance, Dortmund spent much of the following years rebuilding.