Der Klassiker: Bayern and Dortmund Name Starting XIs at the Allianz Arena

Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund have confirmed their starting XIs for Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena, and the two shapes point to a familiar contest: Bayern's 4-2-3-1 against Dortmund's 3-4-2-1.

Kick-off is at 5:30 PM UTC on Saturday, October 31. The teams walk out with the score at 0-0 and no in-play attacking totals yet on the board.

Bayern set up in a 4-2-3-1. The shape gives them a double pivot in front of the back four, three attacking midfielders behind a single centre-forward, and the width to stretch a back three.

Aleksandar Pavlović, Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano are among the players to watch in this Bayern side. Pavlović's role in the middle and Davies's overlap from left-back are the obvious levers against a Dortmund team defending with three centre-backs.

Upamecano anchors the back line. Bayern's ability to push their full-backs high without leaving the centre exposed will shape how much of the ball they can keep in Dortmund's half.

Dortmund answer with a 3-4-2-1. Three centre-backs, a four-man midfield and two attacking midfielders behind a lone striker. The shape is built to crowd the central lanes and spring forward when Bayern's full-backs commit.

Daniel Svensson and Carney Chukwuemeka are the Dortmund names to track. Svensson's positioning on the flank and Chukwuemeka's work between the lines will determine whether Dortmund can turn Bayern's possession into transitions the other way.

The risk for Dortmund is the same as it always is against Bayern: if the wing-backs drop too deep, the front three get isolated, and the 3-4-2-1 becomes a back five without the ball.

Both teams have named their preferred shapes rather than reacting to each other. Bayern's 4-2-3-1 against Dortmund's 3-4-2-1 is a matchup of width against central density.

Bayern will look to get Davies and the right-back high and wide, pinning Dortmund's wing-backs and opening the half-spaces for the three attacking midfielders. Dortmund will look to keep the central three compact, force Bayern wide, and break through Chukwuemeka and the second attacking midfielder when possession turns over.

The confirmed XIs settle the pre-match questions. Bayern have gone with the 4-2-3-1. Dortmund have gone with the 3-4-2-1. Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena starts from there.