The Bundesliga boasts a collection of the biggest and storied clubs in Europe and Germany is home to some of the most fierce and historic rivalries in football.
With Bayern and Dortmund battling it out at the top of the table for the last decade, bettors at Betnaija will be assessing which of the two teams will take bragging rights come the end of the season.
Then there is the clash between Borussia Monchengladbach and Koln and classics like Hamburg vs Werder Bremen. This article will profile some of the main derby clashes in Germany.
Bayern vs Dortmund
Rivalries in football are often based on locality and bragging rights with friends and family. However, the derby between Bayern and Dortmund stems from the fierce competition the two giants have forged over the years.
The Bavarians have the better record in games and title haul but that’s not to say BVB don’t give as good as they get and get under the skin of Bayern from time to time. Dortmund briefly halted the Munich side’s dominance by winning the Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012.
However, this rivalry reached its high point in 2013 when the two sides met at Wembley in the final of the Champions League. Again it was Bayern who reigned supreme but Dortmund will be determined to get their own back in Europe.
Hertha Berlin vs Union Berlin
City derbies like the Roma derby, Merseyside derby and Madrid derby may be more famous and feature every season but the Berlin rivalry has its own unique story.
The match the two sides played in 2019 was an historic one as it marked the first Berlin derby in the Bundesliga in over 40 years. It was also momentous as it was the first-ever all-Berlin derby since German Reunification.
While Hertha are the more recognised club in terms of Bundesliga seasons, it is Union who are now enjoying superiority, competing in the Champions League while Hertha are battle for promotion from the second tier.
Monchengladbach vs Koln
The Rhine derby is six decades old and has been played more than 80 times in the Bundesliga. Both clubs have had mixed fortunes down the years with Koln originally in the top tier until former player and coach took charge of Gladbach and transformed them into a hugely successful outfit as they lifted five titles throughout the 1970s.
Of course, such a switch in narrative is going to cause a rivalry and the two sides have battled it out since. Gladbach lead the way currently with 52 wins compared to Koln’s 27 victories.
Hamburg vs Werder Bremen
Hamburg and Werder Bremen are two of Germany’s classic and traditional clubs. Though the two teams have experienced time in the second division in recent years, the Nord derby has been played more than 100 times in the Bundesliga.
It’s certainly a close rivalry with Werder only just edging it. Bremen boast 37 wins, Hamburg have 34 victories and there have also been 34 draws. It will be interesting to see how the game goes when they next meet in the top tier.
Summing Up
The Bundesliga rivalries get more tasty with each game and passing season with Dortmund determined to finally get the better of Bayern and clubs like Koln and Hamburg eager to also avenge their derby records.
