Bayern edge Dortmund in thrilling game

The Bundesliga was desperately clinging to the notion that despite a 14-point gap, the thrilling nature of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund's rivalry still existed. Aside from the table, the polar opposite form of both teams suggested this fixture had lost some of the edge of previous encounters.

Dortmund were enduring their worst start in 27 years and occupied a relegation spot at kick-off. Meanwhile, Bayern were in, perhaps, the most superior position yet when facing Jürgen Klopp's side in recent years.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Munich, the visiting Dortmund fans arrived in their thousands, full of optimism. Despite being taunted on their way into the stadium - one particularly cheeky fellow grinned at the Dortmund fans while waving a Bayern t-shirt with number 39 and the name Reus written on it – they still believed their side would deliver.

That did not happen - but the game did as the pair played the best match of the season. Not put off by their form, or the lyrics of one of Bayern's pre-match songs - “You can call us the champions of the world”, the start was as even as the game would eventually be.

In such close games, fine margins have an even more noticeable outcome. Klopp knows this and that's why his head was bowed in concern after Marco Reus failed to intercept a pass in midfield and Bayern countered. Roman Weidenfeller, who made a timely return to form on the night, prevented Arjen Robben from scoring.

With just the Süddkurve singing for the home crowd – the rest of the Allianz Arena moved only to oblige the “stand up if you're a Bayern fan” chant – Henrikh Mkhitaryan drove forward and hit the post.

Dortmund run out of gas

Klopp was visibly gesturing for his side to be quicker: It was taking too long to play it out of the back. Pep Guardiola, just as agitated as Klopp in his technical area, saved his furious gesticulation for later in the game.

Robben, again, stung Weidenfeller's knuckles, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was denied by Manuel Neuer. There were mini-battles all over the field, and Dortmund were not only engaging in them, but they were winning their fair share of them, too.

Soon, they were winning the game. In perhaps one of the finest counterattacks of the season, Dortmund took the lead. Aubameyang provided the flick, the burst of speed and the perfect cross and Reus, as if scripted, headed the visiting side into the lead. The already raucous away fans went ballistic.

With Robert Lewandowski free on the penalty spot, Robben crossed low in front of goal. Bayern weren't quite right. Then, when Mkhitaryan got away in midfield, Alonso took the yellow. When Bayern did get it right, they couldn't find a way past Weidenfeller.

The crowd bayed for Ribery, and Pep obliged. Disgruntled or not, the Frenchman delivered. Neven Subotic, on at half time for Mats Hummels, made a superb sliding tackle to intercept Ribery's pass, but it fell to Lewandowski and the lead was gone in a flash.

Dortmund didn't look like a side playing to win 1-0, but conceding took a visible edge off their quality. A draw would have been a fair result, but in an ironic twist of fate Neven Subotic gave away a penalty that Arjen Robben scored to win the game.

With the final whistle looming, the taunting returned.

“You'll be in the second division next year.”

“Relegated! Relegated!”

For all of their optimism, Dortmund fans left having watched their side suffer a sixth successive defeat. There might be little consolation for them on the road back to Westfalen, but their team did put in their best league performance this season.

The problem is that the result didn't follow.