Borussia Dortmund will host RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Friday, looking to climb to the top of the table with a win.
Borussia Dortmund, who face RB Leipzig next, are currently second in the league table, with Bayern Munich ahead of them on goal difference. The two sides are on level points right now. And a victory on Friday would send Dortmund three points clear of the German champions.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig are fourth in the league table with 42 points. And they will fancy their chances of getting in back into the title race as well with a win.
The last time these two sides met in September, RB Leipzig picked up a 3-0 win at home. So Dortmund will be looking to avenge that defeat at the Signal Iduna Park. Clashes between these two sides are quite evenly matched. And this is likely to be another thriller between two teams chasing the league title.
09 ɢᴀᴍᴇꜱ, 09 ᴡɪɴꜱ.
The best calendar year start in club history ⚫️🟡 pic.twitter.com/jGS3GovLcX
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 26, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
The hosts will be without the services of Youssoufa Moukoko, Karim Adeyemi, and Mateu Morey because of injuries. Adeyemi suffered a muscle injury and is set to be ruled out for a few weeks. On the other hand, Moukoko is a long-term absentee with an ankle ligament tear and Morey is still working on his fitness after a serious knee injury.
Edin Terzic is likely to field his side in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Gregor Kobel in goal. Marius Wolf and Julian Ryerson are likely to be deployed as the full-backs and they will look to add creativity and width during transitions.
Nico Schlotterbeck will partner with Niklas Sule at the heart of the Dortmund defence. In the midfield, Jude Bellingham will partner Salih Ozcan in the middle of the park. And the two players will look to add creativity and defensive cover to the side.
Julian Brandt is likely to be deployed as the right-sided winger here with Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on the left. The two players will act as inverted playmakers and they will look to drop down to the midfield to add more control and provide some width from time to time as well. Marco Reus is likely to be deployed in the free role behind striker Sebastien Haller.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Kobel; Wolf, Schlotterbeck, Sule, Ryerson; Brandt, Bellingham, Ozcan, Bynoe-Gittens; Reus; Haller
RB Leipzig
The visitors are without the services of Peter Gulacsi, Abdou Diallo, Dani Olmo, and Konrad Laimer. Laimer is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card last weekend, while Olmo is sidelined with a muscle injury. Diallo has a knee problem, and Gulacsi is still recovering from his ACL injury.
The visitors are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Janis Blaswich in goal. Mohamed Simakan and Marcel Halstenberg will be the full-backs here, and they will hope to add cover to the central defenders and provide width during the attack. Willi Orban will partner with Josko Gvardiolal at the heart of the defence.
Amadou Haidara and Xaver Schlager are likely to start in the midfield pivot, and the two players will look to break up play and recycle the possession. Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner will be the wide forwards here, with Dominik Szoboszlai as the central attacking midfielder. Finally, Andre Silva is set to lead the line for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol, Halstenberg; Haidara, Schlager; Nkunku, Szoboszlai, Werner; Silva
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have won their last seven matches in the Bundesliga.
- RB Leipzig have been winning at both half time and full time in their last three matches against Borussia Dortmund in all competitions.
- L:eipzig are undefeated in 14 of their last 15 matches in the Bundesliga.
- RB Leipzig have won their last three matches against Borussia Dortmund in all competitions.
- Leipzig have scored at least two goals in their last three away matches against Borussia Dortmund in all competitions.
Player to watch out for
Jude Bellingham
The England international has been in sublime form this season, scoring ten goals and picking up six assists along the way. Bellingham was outstanding in the win over Hoffenheim and will look to build on that performance here.
Dortmund will have to control the midfield in order to beat RB Leipzig here. And Bellingham will be crucial to their chances of picking up all three points.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig
The two teams are quite evenly matched, and this is likely to be a close contest. However, Borussia Dortmund are in sensational form right now having picked up seven consecutive victories in the Bundesliga. They should be able to grind out a narrow win here.
RB Leipzig are likely to give the home side a run for their money, but they are likely to fall short because of their defensive vulnerabilities. The visitors have conceded at least once in four of their last six matches, and they have let in at least once in five of their last six matches against Dortmund. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Borussia Dortmund.
