How do Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck and Bayern Munich's Jonathan Tah compare?
With Der Klassiker looming large, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are set to lock horns once again in a clash that bears huge ramifications for the 2025/26 title race. Coming to the fore will be a showdown between two of Germany’s premier central defenders, Nico Schlotterbeck and Jonathan Tah. But how do their profiles compare? The Bundesliga is here with the answers…
As teammates on the international stage and rivals on the domestic, Schlotterbeck and Tah represent two of the finest centre-backs in the Bundesliga and yet embody contrasting interpretations of the modern central defender.
The tip of the iceberg concerning their differences begins with which is their preferred foot - Schlotterbeck favouring his left and Tah his right - though unsurprisingly, it goes much deeper than that.
When it comes to the fundamentals of defending – winning duels - Tah just edges out over his Germany compatriot at present. This term, Bayern’s No.4 has managed to prevail in 60 percent of his duels. The former Bayer Leverkusen man is particularly authoritative in the air, winning an impressive 70 percent in his attempted challenges.
Schlotterbeck, on the other hand, is a shade less successful in this regard, winning 59 percent of his individual duels this term, which, whilst very respectable, is down on previous campaigns when he has posted figures of 66 and 67 percent. That being said, the Dortmund man does get involved in more duels on average per game than his Bayern counterpart (17 to Tah's 13).
Nevertheless, as is the case with most great defenders, Schlotterbeck has plenty more strings to his bow than simply a penchant for tackling. It is with the ball at his feet where the former Freiburg man truly shines.
Dortmund’s No.4 is constantly involved in his side’s build-up play, frequently carrying the ball out of defence to initiate attacks and spraying long passes from deep. Indeed, no outfield player in the Bundesliga attempts more long balls from open play per 90 minutes than Schlotterbeck (nine).
Watch: 'Schlotti' flexing all-round prowess
Tah’s approach, however, is more measured. His pass completion rate of 96 percent – the best in the entire league - speaks to security and efficiency, albeit largely being conducted across shorter distances. Where Schlotterbeck seeks incision and takes risks, Tah seems to value composure and solidity above all else.
There is also an offensive dimension to both players’ games, albeit expressed differently. Schlotterbeck has a keen eye for goal and is among the most potent central defenders in the league in front of it.
Fourteen career Bundesliga strikes to date underline that threat, with three of those arriving this season alone. It could be said that Schlotterbeck is a subscriber to the ‘if you don’t buy a ticket’ adage - those three strikes having come from a total of 26 efforts on goal.
Watch: The best of Schlotterbeck in 2025/26
In his own right, Tah is capable of weighing in as well; something he has demonstrated this term with goals against Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig on Matchdays 5 and 18 respectively. A case could be made for Tah’s superior efficiency in front of goal, having netted twice from seven total attempts, but regardless, his primary focus remains defensive assurance rather than attacking adventure.
So, the contrast is clear. Schlotterbeck personifies proactive distribution, willing to embrace risk and drive the game forward, whilst Tah represents the commanding organiser, defined by strength in the tackles and an immaculately consistent use of the ball.
Perhaps Schlotterbeck himself has summarised the dynamic best. Speaking in Germany’s pre-match press conference ahead of a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in back in October 2025, the Dortmund man shed light on the pair’s relationship, sharing: "I've known Jona for a few years now and I'm always happy to play with him. We complement each other well.
"Jona is very communicative on the pitch and very important to me in that regard. Defensively, he has been a very strong defender for years now and has done extremely well. For me, the ball-playing aspect is perhaps a bit more interesting than for him. He's perhaps a better defender, though. That's why we’re a good fit," he added.
The respect is certainly mutual too, with Tah saying of Schlotterbeck during another Germany camp in November: "He is an outstanding player who always works on himself and always wants to improve.”
For now, though, admiration must give way to rivalry. On Matchday 24, when Der Klassiker rolls around once more, these two international teammates will find themselves facing off in the biggest fixture of the German football calendar, as BVB look to close the gap on their Bavarian rivals in the race for the Meisterschale to five points.
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