Dortmund in unchartered waters ahead of a rivalry losing its edge

The 2013 Champions League final continues to prove a turning point in the rivalry between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

It was at that moment, after a spell where yellow was the color and red the pursuer, that Bayern Munich stormed back to form. Winning in Wembley in a final, recognized by many as one of the best in the last decade, was a decisive turning point.

It is unlikely that Bayern Munich would have recovered from two consecutive Champions League final defeats, let alone lured Pep Guardiola to the dugout. Dortmund might have kept more of their stars, like Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski; Klopp might have fresh plans to relay, and the Bundesliga would have genuinely become a two-team league.

But it was not to be. Arjen Robben, in true scripted fashion, made good on previous big-game blemishes and scored late to win it for the Bavarians. Since then, domestic football in Germany has been dominated by the force of Bayern Munich.

Guardiola came in the summer of 2013 and a double followed him after the first season. Klopp's Dortmund have only managed to keep pace in the Champions League, and in spite of being runners-up twice in successive seasons, they continue to be haunted by inconsistency.

Dortmund set to rise to challenge

Time for some consolation: In the Bundesliga, the recent match-ups have not been completely dominated by Bayern. The last four have seen a win apiece and two draws. So, despite Dortmund's dawdling domestic drive, they do appear to be motivated against Bayern.

Hardly surprising considering the backdrop on which these games are played: Germany's biggest two coaches going head to head, Klopp and Sammer's rivalry, Bayern's pick pocketing of Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski and the international pressure on Dortmund to become a regular title-challenger to Bayern.

Not to forget, Watzke and Rummenigge's public exchanges - the latest being the news that on Saturday's clash, there will be no joint pre-match lunch.

The last thing Dortmund needed to add to that was a crisis of form and confidence. However, they come into this season's first clash off the back of four defeats in their last six and just seven points in nine games - their worst ever league start under Klopp.

If Dortmund are defeated and results elsewhere on the weekend do not go their way, they could occupy a relegation spot by the end of the weekend.

For, perhaps, the first time since the Bundesliga has received increased international attention, Dortmund go into a game against Bayern drastically out-of-form - so much so, that even the "nothing to lose" tag is unapplicable.

Worse still is that the psychological battle is not up for grabs - one win is a long way from suggesting another changing of the guards is on the table. To avoid an expected defeat, Dortmund will have to score more goals - they have only managed four in their last six league games - and make fewer individual errors, particularly in defense.

Robben and Reus lead respective charges

Robben could be his usual match-winning self. But given the return of Götze to Dortmund last season, it might be the turn of Lewandowski to have a stand out day. The biggest concern for Dortmund, though, is just how many match winners Bayern have across the field.

Moreover, if they do get into dangerous positions, they have got to beat the best goalkeeper in the world and Balon D'Or nominee Manuel Neuer.

A big performance from Marco Reus is pivotal to Dortmund's succes: both for the team and the individual.

While Philipp Lahm says Dortmund are still "a real threat", Mats Hummels believes "if there's one game when we can get some self-confidence, it's the game against Bayern."

Words grow more and more predictable in football. Dortmund need to deliver on the pitch to provide some hope that the competitive nature of this rivalry has not already tipped the scales in the direction of one, consistent favorite.