PREVIEW | Why only a Der Klassiker win will do for Dortmund v Bayern

The pressure is all on Borussia Dortmund heading into Tuesday night's much-anticipated 'Der Klassiker' against title rivals Bayern Munich.

Bayern, the reigning champions, are top of the table and hold a four point lead over Dortmund who would trail by seven points if they are beaten.

With just six matches remaining after this match, it would look to be an insurmountable gap for last year's runners up to close.

Previous meetings: The home team has won this fixture for the last four league clashes (Bayern account for 3 of those) and Bayern hammered their guests at a sold-out Allianz Arena last November.

Over 75,000 watched as Robert Lewandowski (2), Serge Gnabry and Mats Hummels (own goal) all hit the back of the net in a 4-0 win for the champions.

The fact that Tuesday's match at Signal Iduna Park is being held behind closed doors is a major disadvantage for Dortmund.

Normally there would be over 81,000 supporters packed in to see the game and it should be noted that since the Bundesliga resumed, there have been very few home wins.

Just three matches in the last two rounds have been won by the home team; Dortmund on the first weekend back and Bayern and Hertha Berlin last weekend.

Last season Dortmund came out the right side of five goal thriller at home - Marco Reus scored two levellers after goals from Robert Lewandowski before Paco Alcacer, now with Villareal, bagged the winner.

Form:

Dortmund - last six: WWWWWW

The only blot on the league copybook of the hosts for 2020 was a 4-3 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen while they have scored an incredible 34 goals in the 10 league matches (W9 L1) they have played after the winter break.

In the first weekend of the Bundesliga's return, they hammered Schalke at home (4-0) before winning on the road against Wolfsburg (0-2).

Bayern - last six: WWWWWW

The champions haven't lost a league match since back-to-back defeats against Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach in December and they have only dropped two points in 2020 (W9 D1) in a draw with RB Leipzig in February.

Since the season resumed they have enjoyed wins away to Union Berlin (0-2) and most recently at home against Eintracht Frankfurt (5-2).

Sharpshooters collide:

Both sides are packed with talent but there is no doubt that the main focus will be on the two men leading their respective lines.

In the red corner - The undisputed Bundesliga scoring champion Robert Lewandowski has topped the charts for four of the last six seasons in Germany.

The 31-year-old Poland international has already bagged 27 league goals this season, two in the last two matches, while he has found the net an incredible twelve times in the last six meetings with his old club Dortmund.

In the yellow corner - The challenger Erling Haaland who has continued his ascendancy to superstardom since his €20 million move from Salzburg in the January transfer window.

He hit the ground running, scoring a 20 minute hat-trick when he was released from the bench in a 5-3 win at Augsburg on his debut.

The 19-year-old Norwegian scored 9 goals in his first 6 league matches and while he has scored just once since the season got back underway, he has been instrumental in nearly all of the goals scored in the two most recent wins.

Team news:

Dortmund - Out: Reus (thigh), Schulz (muscular), Zagadou (knee) Doubtful: Witsel (groin)

Coach: Lucien Favre

Bayern - Out: Coutinho (ankle), Thiago (groin), Tolisso (ankle) Doubtful: Süle (match fitness)

Coach: Hansi Flick

How to watch:

The match kicks off at 17:30 and will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1 from 17:00.