Şahin and Kompany's tactical tussle

It was clear from the start of the latest edition of Der Klassiker that both teams would have to battle for every yard to get a result - and the coaches were determined to make life as difficult as possible for each other. Dortmund set out their stall by pressing high and intently in a 4-4-2 system with Marcel Sabitzer moving up from midfield alongside frontman Serhou Guirassy. 

The Dortmund defence proved to be just as determined and front-footed - with centre-back Waldemar Anton leading the way by winning possession after just 38 seconds when he followed Jamal Musiala high up the field.

Pressing parity

The early advantage in the tactical tussle fell Şahin's way, even though it was far from a knockout blow. The first half was defined by the structured and consistently effective pressing from his Dortmund side, as they seized on every small lapse in Bayern's play to win the ball and start counter-attacks. The hosts got a few chances that way in the first half without finding any big openings.

Bayern defended well and had a pressing set-up that mirrored much of Dortmund's. Musiala was sent up to form a front two while they were pressing, with the defenders having no qualms about racing forward to close down the hosts. Notable in this regard was Minjae Kim winning the ball from Sabitzer well inside the Dortmund half after around 80 seconds of play. 

Same idea, different result

Tactical battles are as much about reactions as they are strategy, and the pressing that both teams adopted led to similar responses. Dortmund made the central defensive pairing wider, involved Gregor Kobel in their build-up play and kept things tight on Bayern's attack. That led to much of the play for the league leaders being fed down the flanks in the first half, with the middle largely unused. 

Bayern did try to play their usual game, but after losing the ball multiple times in central positions, Kompany's in-form side had to react to the flow of the game by widening their own central defensive pairing and getting more control of their own play as a result.

Both teams launched most of their attacks from out wide and infrequently found a way to bring the ball back into the middle as the defences held firm at both ends. Dortmund's left and Bayern's right side was a flashpoint with Leroy Sané and Konrad Laimer providing much of the attacking thrust but struggling to break into the box.

Dortmund defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini often threaded attacks via Jamie Gittens. BVB actively tried to pit Gittens against Laimer, and that proved to be a successful ploy. In the 27th minute, with midfielders Pascal Groß and Felix Nmecha dragging Bayern's two holding midfielders out and the attacking duo of Guirassy and Sabitzer occupying the central defence, Schlotterbeck had space to hit it straight forward to Gittens to tee up Dortmund's opener.

Jamie Gittens - the ace in Dortmund's pack

Dortmund were able to depend on the dynamism and speed of Gittens. Barely anyone in the Bundesliga is a match for the 20-year-old in dribbling at pace, after all. Laimer reacted to his speed by dropping deeper, but that left the English winger available to receive the pass from Schlotterbeck. When Laimer came to close him down, Gittens streamed past him with a feint and broke through on goal. There was no stopping him from this point as the former Manchester City youngster hammered the ball past Manuel Neuer to give his side the lead.

Dortmund almost managed to press on immediately, with Bayern getting drawn too wide to counter Gittens in the next attack and leaving Guirassy free in the middle to receive a pass and send Gittens through again, only for Dayot Upamecano to react superbly to block him.

Bayern also tried to cut Dortmund open with pace, but didn't find things so easy. Their plan was complicated by the injury sustained by star striker Harry Kane after 33 minutes as the league leaders struggled to get a foothold in the opposing area after that.

Bayern take risk and receive reward

The game was transformed after the break. Whatever words Kompany found for his side at the half-time break, they appeared to immediately breathe confidence and verve into Bayern's play. The central defenders moved closer again, while moving Musiala back and introducing Thomas Müller created an overload in the middle that served to release the pressure from the Dortmund attacking line as Guirassy and Sabitzer often had to drop deeper to protect the midfield.

Bayern were also more willing to take risks in their passing game in the second half. With their well-staffed centre, they had no hesitation about turning the ball into the centre of the pitch to try to combine their way towards the Dortmund goal, having focused more on deep runs down the flanks, crosses and solo bursts in the first period. The element of risk in the new approach came in the greater chance of facing a quick break after losing the ball in the middle, but the gamble paid off handsomely.

Bayern soon created two good chances. Straight after the restart, Mathys Tel drilled a great ball from the left to Musiala, who had found a place between the lines. The masterful playmaker beat an opponent on the edge of the area before cutting back sharply to Müller, who missed Bayern's best chance so far. Ten minutes after that, Bayern attacked down the right, with Müller drifting wide to receive the ball. He found Laimer behind the Dortmund defensive midfield duo, who played it to Sané in front of Kobel's goal. The chance for an equaliser went begging, though, as Sané shot wide.

Dortmund on the ropes, set piece seals point

Dortmund did have their moments in the second half. Shortly after the Sané chance, Maximilian Beier intercepted a Bayern ball forward on Dortmund's right side and immediately raced away on the wing, exposing one of the big risks of Bayern's packed-centre approach. Sabitzer was denied by Neuer at the end of the move, but Dortmund were not able to pose the same threat on the break after that.

Bayern instead increased their pressure. With the introduction of Michael Olise for Kim (with Leon Goretzka dropping back into defence), Kompany opted for an even more attacking and creative central contingent - and that move paid off. Bayern were able to combine increasingly well in the middle of the park, which led to Dortmund closing down the middle. That opened space for Sané to get the ball on the right, play a one-two with Olise and work his way into the middle to get a free-kick.

Watch: The Yellow Wall fills up for Der Klassiker

The equaliser for Bayern came from the set-piece that Sané won and the brave, creative and risky changes Kompany made. 

Given all the chances they created, Bayern could well have won the game. That has to give extra confidence to the league leaders ahead of the midweek DFB Cup clash against Bayer Leverkusen in which Kompany will have to consider the thorny question of how Bayern replace the injured Kane.

While Dortmund would have loved to have held on for a win, they can be quite content with proving that with a clear plan and their incredible fans behind them, they can match any team in football. Şahin might want to ponder still how the intensity of Bayern's play in the second half ultimately forced a way back for them.