Borussia Dortmund will host Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park, looking to build on their recent wins over Union Berlin and Werder Bremen.
Borussia Dortmund are fifth in the Bundesliga table, and they will look to push for Champions League qualification in the coming weeks, including in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
The Black and Yellows are two points adrift of fourth-placed RB Leipzig, and they cannot afford to drop points right now. Missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification would be a major blow for Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt are in sixth place in the standings, and they are unbeaten in their last five matches. They are coming into this game on the back of two consecutive victories just like Dortmund, and this is likely to be a cracking contest. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Sebastien Haller suffered an ankle injury during the Africa Cup of Nations, and he is still sidelined. Meanwhile, Marcel Sabitzer was sent off last weekend, and he is suspended for two matches.
Borussia Dortmund are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Eintracht Frankfurt, with Gregor Kobel in goal. Julian Ryerson and Ian Maatsen will be deployed as the full backs. They will look to help out defensively and assist during counter-attacking opportunities. Niklas Sule will form the central defensive partnership alongside Nico Schlotterbeck.
As for the midfield unit, Salih Ozcan will start alongside Emre Can in the double pivot in the middle of the park. The two players will look to break up opposition attacks and protect the central defence.
Donyell Malen and Jadon Sancho will be deployed in the wide areas, and the two players will look to add pace, flair and goals from the flanks. Julian Brandt will start as the central attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities with his vision and passing in the final third. Finally, Niclas Fullkrug will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gregor Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Ozcan, Can; Sancho, Brandt, Malen; Fullkrug
Eintracht Frankfurt
Sasa Kalajdzic misses out with his long-term ACL injury, while Sebastian Rode has a knee injury, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya is ruled out with a calf problem. The visitors will start in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Kevin Trapp in goal.
Tuta and Philipp Max will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact defensively and help out during transitions. The in-demand Willian Pacho will start at the heart of the defence alongside Robin Koch.
In the defensive midfield role, Ellyes Skhiri will look to mop up opposition attacks and protect the Eintracht Frankfurt defensive unit. Hugo Larsson and Mario Gotze will be deployed as the advanced central midfielders, and they will look to help out creatively and add more control to the side.
As for the attack, Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe will start on the right flank, with Ansgar Knauff on the left. Omar Marmoush is in impressive goalscoring form, and he will lead the line for Eintracht Frankfurt against Borussia Dortmund.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Trapp; Tuta, Koch, Pacho, Max; Skhiri; Ebimbe, Larsson, Gotze, Knauff; Marmoush
Key Stats
- 28 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
- Borussia Dortmund have won 12 of their last 13 home matches against Eintracht Frankfurt in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have scored at least three goals in eight of their last nine home matches against Eintracht Frankfurt in all competitions.
- Both teams are unbeaten in five of their last six league matches.
- Five of the last six meetings between these two teams have seen them get on the score sheet.
Player to Watch
Julian Brandt
The 27-year-old is in fine form right now, and he has picked up an assist in his last two appearances. The midfielder has six goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga, and he will look to open up the opposition defense with his creativity and vision in the final third.
Brandt will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and add to his tally as well. The German midfielder is thus our key player to watch out for heading into Sunday’s Bundesliga game.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Both teams are quite evenly matched on current form, and this is likely to be a close contest. However, Borussia Dortmund have the better set of players at their disposal, and they might be able to edge this one. Both teams are likely to get on the scoresheet, but the home team should be able to grind out all three points eventually.