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During the weekend fixtures became evening, Bayern Munich demonstrated their present dominance as the unstoppable force, practically untouchable and stimulated into their best performance by serious challengers, as shown in their evening fixture at emerging Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bundesliga Showdown

Despite the fact that Dortmund's encounter with Red Bull Leipzig was considered of a pivotal game in the beginning phase of the Bundesliga season, with top contenders clashing, expectations were somewhat tempered in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Be it the head coach citing his fellow former Bayern manager the experienced coach ("if you can't win, you shouldn't lose," he reflected at the final whistle) or his opposite number the visiting manager speaking about his "evolving" side, it appeared as though a 1-1 draw was just, resulting in both teams moderately content, partially frustrated.

Long-standing Rivalry

And this is a game that matters, and has historically carried weight since RB's top-flight arrival. These opposing sides are polar opposites in perspective and what they believe they stand for.

If the Bundesliga is familiar with Leipzig – as opposed to having completely embraced the club conceptually – there is a special level of animosity that greets Leipzig when they visit Dortmund's stadium.

Promotional Wars

Prior to the match sizeable billboards in Dortmund city centre displayed two portions of fries, one plain and one with tomato and mayonnaise (for the red and white of RB), featuring the message "Merely yellow won't bring happiness," with the wordplay of the German word for yellow rather than financial resources joking about the image of Leipzig as a purely corporate project.

The signs were attributed "with sporting greetings, Die Roten Bullen." Despite the passage of time RB know they will never be viewed as authentic by swathes of league followers, so have taken the decision to deliberately adopt the antagonist role; a parallel promotional strategy was employed in Bayern's city ahead of their first away game there, playfully mentioning "at last a straightforward club colors" making an appearance after particular followers' objections about the champions' latest kit.

Matchday Significant Events

These two teams are aiming at the similar objectives additionally fuels the rivalry, even if it is not the underlying reason. Munich's impressive form has only accentuated this feeling, and seeing the Colombian winger surpass even the English striker this weekend, with the German's improved performances overcoming the persistent missing of the young talent, this weekend has been a reminder of the true picture of the current hierarchy.

Leipzig started brightly and took the hosts unaware with a rehearsed dead ball routine, finished by Christoph Baumgartner but designed by dead-ball expert Jan Zimmerman, released from his role with Dortmund's under-23s in the previous season.

Looking a bit leggy from their midweek Champions League exertions the Dortmund equalised through an visually impressive goal of their own, with the Brazilian defender completing the move and though "it could have gone either way" in the scorer's opinion, the draw felt about right.

After the Game Reflections

Was there a declaration waiting to be made here, there was no one capable to fully deliver it. The Leipzig player spoke of his team's progress under their coach, claiming that his side had shown determination and "displayed maturity, an area needing improvement somewhat last year," but it all felt like modest progress in the right direction as opposed to issuing any challenge.

"We're among the elite clubs in the league," the player stated and there is hard to argue with that at present, but there is also the impression that it won't quite be enough this year in terms of creating a genuine battle at the top.

Managerial Debates

This encounter maybe highlighted just why Dortmund have progressed under the coaching of Kovač, but also why there may be definite boundaries to what they can accomplish with him at the control. They survived their tiredness and RB's better moments and, in the final minutes of the game, suggested that they could be ready to step forth and win the game, particularly with the strategic substitutions of Pascal Groß and Jobe Bellingham.

But was the belief to convert momentum into a success, or merely optimism that it would? This version of BVB can be competitive, but there is a uncertainty over whether they have title-winning capability. As the Swiss international commented, the trip to Bayern after the national team pause will reveal much information.

Wider Context

If Dortmund or RB should be winners is a different question. Post multiple campaigns of internal and external instability, possibly the hosts require a campaign of consistent results, of managing development of steady growth; the ultimate goal also relevant for Leipzig.

Concerning these organizations that consider themselves total opposites, they spent this weekend giving a perfect example of being in the same boat.

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