Der Klassiker: Portugal pair set for showdown
There will be stars all over the pitch when Der Klassiker unfolds on Saturday 19 November at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, with players who tasted glory for Portugal at UEFA EURO 2016 on show for both Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München.
Raphael Guerreiro, for Saturday’s hosts, and Bayern’s Renato Sanches were part of a Portugal side that surprised many to claim their country’s first win at a major tournament. bundesliga.com looks at the pair who could face off against each other in what is shaping up to be a Klassiker to remember.
Renato's rapid rise to stardom
Such are his prodigious talents that it is easy to forget that Sanches only made his professional debut just over a year ago. Still only 19, the midfielder has enjoyed an incredible 12 months, making such an impact with SL Benfica as they clinched the Portuguese Liga title that Bayern had agreed a five-year deal to bring him to the Allianz Arena before the end of his debut season. He played an integral role in Portugal’s triumph in France, and was named as the Best Young Player of the Tournament.
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Guerreiro moving up the gears
The journey to European glory was not quite as straightforward or as rapid for Guerreiro, who was born and raised in France but never made a secret of his desire to wear the red-and-green of his father’s homeland. He denied his birth country in a gripping final in July, and could even have scored only to see a brilliant free-kick strike the crossbar.
Watch: Guerreiro opens his Dortmund account in the 5-1 dismissal of Wolfsburg on Matchday 4:
By the time of the final the defender’s move from FC Lorient to Dortmund had been confirmed, and after being eased into the Bundesliga action over the early stages of the season the 22-year-old has taken its demands in his stride. His eye for a goal was apparent early on with three in four games during September, but Saturday is sure to be a huge test of the defensive capabilities that he was signed for. The presence of the teenaged prodigy that is Sanches for Bayern would add yet another enticing subplot to this mouth-watering clash of the titans.