Borussia Dortmund will look to keep pressure on rivals Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table when they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday evening.
Still just two points behind Bundesliga pacesetters Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund will play hosts to Eintracht Frankfurt in a crucial late fixture on Saturday afternoon.
Borussia Dortmund’s title hopes were dashed last weekend when they inexplicably surrendered a lead twice at relegation strugglers VfB Stuttgart, who were down to ten men and heroically played out a 3-3 draw in what was an entertaining goal-fest.
The result continued Dortmund’s frustrating form on the road, which is playing a big hindrance in their title charge, having won just four of their last nine Bundesliga away games. As a result, a big response is required come this weekend if they want to keep the title race alive.
The good news is that the hosts will return to the home comforts of Signal Iduna Park, where BVB have won eight times on the spin. Should Bayern fail to win or draw away to FSV Mainz 05 earlier on Saturday, Dortmund have the chance to top the table by the end of the day as they look to deny the Bavarians an 11th successive Bundesliga triumph.
As for reigning Europa League winners Frankfurt, European football will be their top priority, with the side seeming to be running out of gas as the campaign’s climax approaches, having only won one of their last ten games in all competitions. Oliver Glasner’s side have not won a Bundesliga game since the middle of February and will be desperate to return to winning ways.
They sit two points behind Bayer Leverkusen in seventh as Xabi Alonso’s side currently occupies the Europa Conference League place, so they are still in sight of a lower-tier European berth; however, they must get back on track sooner rather than later.
The last time these two sides met was in the reverse fixture back in October last year, where Jude Bellingham’s 52nd-minute goal proved to be the difference between the two as Dortmund secured a 2-1 away win. Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over these two teams ahead of their intriguing encounter at Signal Iduna Park this weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Up Next: MD29 👊 pic.twitter.com/Tdm5mhZY17
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) April 21, 2023
Thomas Meunier is sidelined with a muscle issue, while Niklas Sule missed last weekend with a muscle injury that needs monitoring. Anthony Modeste twisted his knee in training and is another doubt for the game.
Nico Schlotterbeck is nearing a return from a muscle injury. The same goes for Mateu Morey, who is on his way back from a serious knee injury, while Marius Wolf could return from illness to feature here.
Mats Hummels was back from illness on Wednesday, while Niklas Sule was spotted doing light running with his teammates on Thursday after muscular issues saw him miss the draw in Stuttgart. Speaking on Thursday, though, Terzic revealed in his pre-match presser that the centre-back may not play, and will be bound to late assessment ahead of the game tomorrow.
Gregor Kobel will start in between the sticks on Saturday and could be in for a busy day against an Eintracht Frankfurt attack. Hummels will likely start at centre-back, and the hope is that one of Süle or Schlotterbeck will accompany him in central defence.
Marius Wolf should also make his way back into the starting lineup, with Julian Ryerson perhaps making way for him. Raphael Guerreiro, who has done well in a central midfield role in recent weeks, could slot in at left-back once again due to a defensive shortage.
If Schlotterbeck and Sule are unable to recuperate from their injuries in time, Emre Can may be called upon to play in defence in which case Salih Ozcan will man the holding midfield role. Otherwise, the former Liverpool man will slot in his usual defensive midfield position, where he will play an important role in shielding the back four.
Jude Bellingham has been struggling a bit to find form lately and will be aiming to bounce back to his best this weekend, starting in his usual number-eight role. Despite his troubles last weekend, Julian Brandt should retain his starting position.
Donyell Malen comes into the game as Borussia Dortmund’s most in-form attacker, finally showing his true quality that prompted the BVB bosses to sign him from PSV Eindhoven, having scored in four consecutive league games. And he will be aiming to continue his fine form this weekend. Karim Adeyemi will likely start down the left flank, with Sebastien Haller set to lead the line-up top after his goal against Stuttgart.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kobel; Wolf, Can, Hummels, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Ozcan, Brandt; Malen, Adeyemi; Haller
Eintracht Frankfurt
Evan Ndicka is sidelined with a hip injury, and Kristijan Jakic is struggling with a calf problem. Hrvoje Smolcic suffered a ligament injury and is out for the season. Jesper Lindstrom (ankle), Almamy Toure (muscle), Marcel Wenig (broken foot), and Philipp Max (thigh) all miss out here due to respective injury issues.
Mario Gotze, who made 219 appearances for Dortmund over two spells at the club, is back available after a suspension and could return against his former club. Kevin Trapp is expected to continue in goal, with the Eagles lining up in Oliver Glasner’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him, with Tuta, Makoto Hasebe, and Christopher Lenz forming the back three.
𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪! 🦅 ✊
Away clash with @BlackYellow! 💥#SGE I #BVBSGE pic.twitter.com/dFfqBbS7Zk
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_eng) April 21, 2023
Up ahead in midfield, Sebastian Rode and Djibril Sow will form the double-pivot. The duo will look to make Frankfurt smooth on transitions to create good attacking moments while providing additional cover for the back-three. And wing-backs Aurelio Buta and Ansgar Knauff will foray forward to provide width on flanks for attacking midfielders who will tuck-in to create those intricate triangles.
Daichi Kamada and Gotze will have a free role higher up the pitch and will look to carve out openings in the final third. Goal-machine Randal Kolo Muani will spearhead the Frankfurt attack, having a direct hand in 34 goals in all competitions this season (20 goals, 14 assists).
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Trapp; Tuta, Hasebe, Lenz; Buta, Rode, Sow, Knauff; Kamada, Gotze; Kolo Muani
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have won each of their last eight home Bundesliga games.
- Borussia Dortmund have won ten of their last 11 home games against Frankfurt.
- Additionally, BVB have won each of their last three matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring a combined total of ten goals.
- Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in their last seven games in the Bundesliga.
- Eintracht Frankfurt have only managed to win one of their last 12 league meetings with Dortmund, enduring seven defeats in that time.
Player to Watch
Daichi Kamada
Daichi Kamada has caught the eye for Eintracht Frankfurt this season. He has scored 13 goals from 38 appearances in all competitions this season for the Eagles, including goals in three consecutive UEFA Champions League group stage games that helped Frankfurt qualify for the knockout rounds before losing to Napoli in the Round of 16.
While the Japanese international’s form has dipped of late, he will be chomping at the bit to impress in front of his potential suitors, with the 26-year-old now confirmed to leave his current club on a free transfer in the summer.
An industrious and supremely versatile attacker, Kamada prides his game on his work rate, creativity, and ability to arrive in the box, while also bringing a further set of technical and physical attributes to the table. The visitors need him to shine if they are planning to take any points from this game.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Dortmund showcased the firepower at their disposal with three goals at Stuttgart last weekend. However, their defensive flaws were also on display, and they shipped three goals at the wrong end to their mid-table opponents. With key defenders missing, Dortmund will rely on their attacking talent to secure points on Saturday. And an open game should develop as a result, with Eintracht Frankfurt adept at counter-attacking teams.
Eintracht Frankfurt are in a genuine slump and need a win to boost their European qualification hopes. Given Dortmund’s mounting problems at the back, The Hard Tackle backs the Eagles to nick a point in a highly entertaining game and further dampen the hosts’ title hopes.
