The fact that Der Klassiker has become one of the biggest games in Europe is a testament to Borussia Dortmund's rise.
This weekend, the injury-hit Champions League finalists welcome Bayern Munich - the team that beat them at Wembley in May.
These are two clubs whose rivalry has re-intensified over the past three seasons thanks to title battles and Bayern's decision to sign Mario Gotze from Dortmund.
European football writer Graham Hunter was on Off The Ball tonight to chat about the growing rivalry between the two German clubs.
"The needle between these two clubs is extremely big now," he said, "One of the things on the agenda for Bayern Munich's hierarchy is to crush Dortmund. Dortmund annoy Bayern Munich. Bayern have a stated goal to absolutely dominate German football - and if they can, European football. At the moment there is a big stone in their shoe, which is Borussia Dortmund, despite taking the treble last season."
If Bayern thought beating Dortmund would keep their rivals at bay, they had a reality check at the first opportunity when Jurgen Klopp's side beat Pep Guardiola's side 4 - 2 in July's German Super Cup.
"Immediately Dortmund came back and inflicted Pep's first defeat, although Bayern are now looking like the more powerful team with the deeper squad," said Hunter.
"But over the last four years, Dortmund are ahead of goals scored and victories and they have kept pace with Bayern despite the investment Bayern have made in the transfer market. Dortmund are losing players, yet keeping pace."
"Until last season, you would not have been booed out of court if you said that Dortmund had the clearer strategy and plan. They'd invested in Klopp when times were tough and have patently come to the boil over four years. Klopp was taking in the likes of Neven Subotic and young players from their youth system and hey presto you get someone like Kevin Groβkreutz who is now a regular starter. Dortmund have economically, institutionally and in sporting terms, been the club with strategy. But Bayern have now changed several gears in the space of 18 or 20 months. And kudos to them!"
