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When Saturday's action became evening, the German champions demonstrated their current form as the unstoppable force, virtually unbeatable and provoked into their best performance by proper competition, as shown in the subsequent game at emerging Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bundesliga Encounter

Even if BVB's meeting with Red Bull Leipzig carried the weight of a crucial encounter in the initial stage of the domestic championship, with second facing third, expectations were more modest in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Whether it was the head coach citing his fellow ex- Bayern manager Giovanni Trapattoni ("if you can't win, avoid defeat," he stated at the final whistle) or his rival manager the visiting manager talking of his "evolving" side, it appeared as though a 1-1 draw was fair, resulting in both teams somewhat satisfied, somewhat disappointed.

Traditional Competition

Here we have a game that is significant, and has historically carried weight since their Bundesliga entry. These opposing sides are polar opposites in outlook and what they consider their identity.

If the Bundesliga is familiar with Leipzig – rather than having totally welcomed the club in principle – there is a particular degree of hostility that awaits the visitors when they arrive at Signal Iduna Park.

Advertising Wars

On Friday morning sizeable billboards in Dortmund city centre pictured two helpings of fries, basic fries and one with red and white sauces (for the club colors of RB), annotated with the legend "Just yellow isn't satisfying," with the wordplay of the German word for yellow rather than money making light of the image of Leipzig as a corporate creation.

The notices were signed "competitive salutations, Die Roten Bullen." Following many seasons RB accept they won't be regarded as genuine by significant portions of league followers, so have opted to knowingly embrace the villain arc; a parallel promotional strategy was used in the Bavarian capital ahead of their first away game there, humorously referencing "eventually an uncomplicated club colors" making an appearance after some Bayern fans' complaints about the reigning champions' current uniform.

Matchday Significant Events

These two teams are competing for the same sort of level additionally fuels the tension, although it is not the motivation behind it. Munich's impressive form has additionally highlighted this perception, and observing the talented attacker outshine even Harry Kane this weekend, with Serge Gnabry's resurgent form making light of the persistent missing of Jamal Musiala, this weekend has been a demonstration of the reality of where everyone is.

Leipzig started brightly and surprised Dortmund with a rehearsed dead ball routine, scored by their goalscorer but created by specialist trainer the set-piece specialist, released from his role with Dortmund's reserve side in the previous season.

Appearing somewhat tired from their European commitments the Dortmund drew level through an visually impressive goal of their own, with Yan Couto completing the move and though "victory was possible for either" in the scorer's opinion, the shared points felt about right.

Following the Fixture Reflections

Had there been a declaration ready to be delivered here, there was no one capable to fully deliver it. Ridle Baku commented on his side's development under the manager, claiming that his side had demonstrated resilience and "displayed maturity, which we lacked to some extent last year," but it all seemed like modest progress in the correct path rather than issuing any challenge.

"We're among the elite clubs in the league," he added and there is little disputing that as stands, but there is also the feeling that it won't quite be enough this year in terms of creating a genuine battle at the top.

Managerial Questions

This game perhaps underlined just why Dortmund have progressed under the coaching of the head coach, but also why there may be definite boundaries to what they can achieve with him at the wheel. They survived their weariness and the visitors' dominant periods and, in the latter stages of the game, indicated that they could be ready to step forth and secure victory, especially thanks to the timely introductions of their new signing and their promising youngster.

But was the belief to turn increased tempo into a win, or just a hope that it would? The current Dortmund can be formidable, but there is a question over whether they can really be winners. As the Swiss international commented, the visit to Munich after the international break will tell us plenty.

League Overview

Should either team or RB should be winners is a distinct matter. Post multiple campaigns of on and off-field turbulence, maybe BVB could do with a campaign of consistent results, of managing development of gradual improvement; the latter aim also relevant for Leipzig.

For teams and clubs that consider themselves total opposites, they employed this fixture providing an excellent demonstration of facing similar challenges.

League Table