Paco Alcacer, Serge Gnabry and the 5 Klassiker debutants to look out for when Borussia Dortmund host Bayern Munich
The 22 players who take to the Signal Iduna Park pitch for Matchday 11's Klassiker are all well used to performing on the biggest stage, but a handful will nevertheless be getting their first taste of the Bundesliga's unique heavyweight contest. bundesliga.com picks out five of the men who could make a major impact on their Klassiker bows.
Paco Alcacer(Borussia Dortmund)
The Spain international has charged into life at Dortmund after his loan move from Barcelona, bulldozing Bundesliga defenders aside to plunder seven goals in his first four appearances at a ratio of one strike every 33 minutes. That sort of strike-rate is a forward's dream and a defender's worst nightmare, and after being part of the supporting cast to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in Catalonia, the ex-Valencia striker now promises to play a central role in BVB's season. Bayern's defence will be fully aware that if they take their eyes off him for a second, they can start searching for the ball in the back of their net.
Watch: Paco Alcacer's game dissected
Serge Gnabry(Bayern Munich)
Gnabry played against both Klassiker rivals while on loan at Hoffenheim last season, but this will be his first time against BVB in a Bayern shirt. Familiarity with Gnabry's top-drawer qualities will certainly not breed contempt among the Dortmund defenders, who — being aware of the havoc he can wreak with his close control and blistering pace — will be on their guard. What better time for the 23-year-old to do damage fresh from netting his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern on Matchday 10?
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Leon Goretzka(Bayern Munich)
The Germany international midfielder agreed to move to Bayern in January last season, leaving the club's fans licking their lips at the prospect of seeing the ex-Schalke man in their club's colours. Goretzka has proven worth the wait. His stylishly taken volley against Mainz on Matchday 9 was the pinnacle of the sort of match-dictating performance that had become his trademark in Gelsenkirchen. Used to stepping up on the big stage, don't be surprised if the 23-year-old delivers his best display in Bayern colours yet. Besides, given his Schalke background, this is something of a personal derby for Goretzka.
Abdou Diallo(Borussia Dortmund)
The fact he wears the captain's armband of France's Under-21 side says much about the maturity and leadership qualities that run through the summer buy from Mainz. He'll need it too with Robert Lewandowski on the prowl. Bayern have plundered a gobsmacking 13 goals in their last three meetings with BVB, but with Diallo having settled cosily into Lucien Favre's rearguard, the record Bundesliga champions are likely to find the Frenchman a near-impassable en route to goal - provided he can recover from the adductor injury that kept him out of action on Matchday 10.