Borussia Dortmund will be under pressure to secure three points as they play hosts to Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday.
After the year’s first international break, Borussia Dortmund resume their Bundesliga campaign on Sunday, playing hosts to Bayer Leverkusen.
The Black and Yellows have enjoyed an imperious run of form in the Bundesliga this year, winning all of their three matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg and TSG Hoffenheim. Their strong start to 2022 has put pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the league table.
However, with the Bavarians playing RB Leipzig on Saturday, the gap between the two teams could extend to nine points. It essentially makes this a must-win encounter for Marco Rose’s men, who do have the best home record in the Bundesliga, having dropped points just once at Signal Iduna Park in the competition so far this season.
Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, are coming on the back of two consecutive wins after initially starting the year with a 2-2 draw with Union Berlin. Their most recent game saw them produce a five-star performance against Augsburg, with Moussa Diaby scoring the first hat-trick of his Bundesliga career.
Leverkusen’s recent run of form has catapulted them into the third position, with a total of 35 points collected. However, with RB Leipzig performing well under Domenico Tedesco, Die Werkself can’t afford a slip up and will be aiming for at least a point against an imperious Dortmund side at Signal Iduna Park this weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have been dealt a massive blow heading into this game as both Mats Hummels and Emre Can have been ruled out. Erling Haaland was likely to miss this game as well, but the Norwegian’s cryptic update on Friday means he could be in contention for at least a substitute appearance from the bench.
Can you hear it? ?? That's the sound of me coming back soon ⚫? @BVB pic.twitter.com/DhMWgx2mPA
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) February 4, 2022
The absence of Hummels and Can in defence could see Dan-Axel Zagadou form the central defensive pairing alongside Manuel Akanji. It is a combination that is not often used by Dortmund, so it will be interesting to see whether it will be enough to keep the mighty Leverkusen attack at bay.
The two will require the assistance of full-backs Thomas Meunier and Raphael Guerreiro, who remains a weak link at the back but can be very useful with his forays down the flanks.
In midfield, Dortmund have been boosted by the return of Giovanni Reyna. The American international is likely to make the matchday squad and could come on as a second-half substitute for Julian Brandt, who remains the favourite to form the three-man creative setup alongside Marco Reus and Jude Bellingham.
Mahmoud Dahoud, meanwhile, should get the nod ahead of Axel Witsel in the holding midfield role. The German’s ability to win back possession and offer forward passes could go a long way in breaching the lines of the Leverkusen defence.
And finally, with Haaland absent, the Dortmund attack is set to be spearheaded by Donyell Malen and Youssoufa Moukoko. While Thorgan Hazard is a more experienced alternative for Moukoko, the youngster has struggled with a lack of game time, and it appears Marco Rose is likely to give him the opportunity to make an impression this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Kobel; Meunier, Akanji, Zagadou, Guerreiro; Dahoud; Bellingham, Reus, Brandt; Moukoko, Malen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen’s January signing Serdar Azmoun may have to wait before making his Bundesliga debut, whereas the visitors are missing quite a few first-team stars due to injury. Julian Baumgartlinger and Exequiel Palacios are both in rehab training, whereas Paulinho is a doubt due to match fitness.
Eyes on the Bundesliga!
? #BVBB04 pic.twitter.com/sGZIfgHrNX
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) February 5, 2022
Key defender Edmond Tapsoba is also likely to miss out due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, despite Burkina Faso’s recent elimination in the semifinals. Tapsoba’s absence could once again force coach Gerardo Seoane to play Piero Hincapie at centre-back, alongside Jonathan Tah.
Elsewhere in defence, Jeremy Frimpong and Mitchell Bakker are set to occupy the full-back roles. Their ability to carry the ball forward could be invaluable in helping Leverkusen speed up their build-up game from the back.
It could be equally important for the two central midfielders in Robert Andrich and Kerem Demirbay to form a solid pairing in the double-pivot. While Demirbay is expected to offer the creativity in the middle of the park, Andrich’s discipline and combative qualities could go a long way in helping Leverkusen stifle Dortmund’s ball-carriers.
Further forward, Leverkusen boast a star-studded attack led by the Bundesliga’s second-highest goalscorer Patrick Schick. The Czech international can expect creative support from the talented Julian Wirtz, Moussa Diaby and Karim Bellarabi. The latter’s experience could be useful, although Seoane does have Amine Adli as a potential alternative.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hradecky; Frimpong, Tah, Hincapie, Bakker; Andrich, Demirbay; Bellarabi, Wirtz, Diaby; Schick
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen’s tally of 49 goals after 20 games this season is a new club record.
- Bayer Leverkusen have claimed 18 points from a possible 30 on the road. Only league leaders Bayern Munich have taken more (25).
- There have been a total of 50 goals over the last ten meetings between these two clubs.
- Marco Reus has only scored more times against Werder Bremen and Mainz (14) than against Leverkusen (11). The Dortmund captain has scored six in his last six games against Die Werkself.
- Borussia Dortmund have picked up 27 of a possible 30 points at home this season.
Player to Watch
Raphael Guerreiro
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 2, 2022
Despite Borussia Dortmund’s promising form in the Bundesliga, Raphael Guerreiro has endured a difficult start to the year. After returning from injury, the left-back has not been able to perform to his level so far, often struggling to provide creativity in the final third and failing to keep up with the opposition attackers.
Sunday’s game against Leverkusen could be crucial for Guerreiro as the nature of the opposition means the Portuguese international is either going to have a great game or completely fall off the grid and become a defensive liability.
Indeed, the offensive trifecta of Wirtz, Diaby and Bellarabi will look to target the Dortmund left flank, knowing Guerreiro’s lack of defensive solidity. At the same time, Leverkusen have to be careful of his forward runs and link-up play with the attackers that could tear up their defence.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen
This could turn out to be yet another nail-biting affair, as the two sides have always produced goals. While Dortmund, given their excellent home record, remain the favourites to win, the absence of key players coupled with their wretched defence could pave the way for Leverkusen attackers to cause all sorts of problems. It should lead to a nail-biting contest, with the game likely to be decided at the last minute.
