Top-four rivals Borussia Dortmund will take on VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.
A compelling top-four showdown awaits in the Bundesliga as Borussia Dortmund host VfB Stuttgart at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday afternoon. Both sides sit level on 21 points after ten matches, and with Bayern Munich beginning to slip out of reach, this fixture represents a crucial opportunity for each to tighten their grip on the Champions League places before the winter break.
It has been over a decade since Borussia Dortmund last lifted the Bundesliga title, and while their
current campaign has been largely impressive, the shadow of Bayern Munich continues to loom large. Dortmund trail the champions by seven points, though that gap speaks more about Bayern’s relentless quality than it does about flaws in Niko Kovac’s side.
Borussia Dortmund have produced a quietly efficient start to the season, amassing six wins, suffering just one defeat, and showcasing one of the league’s best defences. Their tally of seven goals conceded is the second-best in the Bundesliga, bettered only by Bayern themselves.
Even so, the international break arrived at an opportune moment. Dortmund stumbled into the pause on the back of a humbling 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League before dropping points in a 1-1 draw against Hamburger SV in domestic action. Momentum was slipping, and the break provided time to reset.
Now, with key players rested and tactical corrections made, Kovac will expect a sharper, more assertive performance. However, a major obstacle stands in their way: Borussia Dortmund have not beaten Stuttgart in over three years, and the visitors have become something of a persistent thorn in their side.
Stuttgart have continued their resurgence under Sebastian Hoeness, who has transformed a mid-table squad into one of the Bundesliga’s most efficient and ambitious outfits. After finishing ninth last season, their triumphant DFB-Pokal win, ending an 18-year trophy drought, injected belief and direction back into the club.
This season, Die Schwaben have surged into the top-four conversation with purpose. They have already collected six league wins, a figure bettered only by Bayern Munich, and their football has combined attacking fluidity with organised discipline.
Before the international break, Die Schwaben were among the league’s form teams, winning six of their last eight across all competitions. Balancing Europa League duties with domestic ambitions is notoriously difficult, yet Stuttgart have navigated both fronts with maturity and energy.
Confidence is high, and so is motivation: Stuttgart travel to Signal Iduna Park to take on Borussia Dortmund with the opportunity to secure a remarkable sixth straight victory against Die Borussen. At a moment when both teams eye European security and Bayern Munich remain beyond reach for now, this clash carries enormous weight. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund enter the weekend with mostly encouraging news on the fitness front, as Niko Kovac confirmed that all of the club’s international players returned safely without any fresh issues following the latest continental break. This comes as a significant relief given the intensity of recent fixtures and the demanding schedule ahead.
Even so, Borussia Dortmund remain without two important defensive figures ahead of the game against VfB Stuttgart. Niklas Sule continues to recover from a painful toe injury, one that Kovac described as severe enough to make even wearing shoes difficult. As a result, the centre-back will not be involved against Stuttgart.
Ramy Bensebaini is also still sidelined due to an ongoing muscle problem and is not yet close to returning. There are no suspensions in the squad, leaving Kovac free to focus on tactical balance rather than forced rotation.
With limited defensive options available, Kovac is expected to stick with his trusted three-man backline, which has contributed significantly to Dortmund’s excellent defensive record this season. The emphasis will be on maintaining structure, controlling transitions, and ensuring that Stuttgart’s quick attacking combinations do not exploit gaps between the line, something that has hurt Dortmund in recent meetings.
Gregor Kobel will take his place in goal, providing stability and leadership from the back. Ahead of him, the defensive trio should consist of Waldemar Anton, Emre Can, and Nico Schlotterbeck, with Anton operating on the right side of the back three, Can marshalling the central zone, and Schlotterbeck covering the left.
In midfield, Julian Ryerson is set to feature at right wing-back, bringing energy and defensive intensity, while Daniel Svensson is expected to operate on the left flank. The central pairing will likely include Marcel Sabitzer and Lukas Nmecha, combining ball progression with ball-winning responsibility.
Further forward, Carney Chukwuemeka and Maximilian Beier will take up the dual attacking midfield roles, drifting between pockets to support the frontline and connect transitions. Leading the attack, Stuttgart’s former talisman Serhou Guirassy is poised to spearhead the frontline, offering physicality, pressing presence, and a consistent goal threat.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anton, Can, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Chukwuemeka, Beier; Guirassy
VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart arrive in Dortmund with several notable absentees, yet momentum and internal competition remain high within Sebastian Hoeness’s squad. One of the key storylines surrounds Angelo Stiller, who will be eager to produce another influential display after being surprisingly left out of Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad during the recent international break.
The 24-year-old midfielder has been one of Stuttgart’s most consistent performers this season, and his omission may well fuel an even hungrier showing on Saturday. However, Hoeness must once again navigate significant injury problems.
Luca Jaquez and Ramon Hendriks have both recently returned to light training after recovering from muscular issues, but neither defender is expected to be fit enough to take part this weekend. The club remains cautious about accelerating their return.
In addition, Stuttgart are still without several important first-team players. Captain Ermedin Demirovic continues to recover from a foot injury, Yannik Keitel is sidelined with a thigh strain, and exciting young attacker Justin Diehl remains unavailable due to an ankle problem. None of the trio will feature at Signal Iduna Park, limiting Stuttgart’s rotational options across midfield and attack.
There are no suspension concerns for Hoeness to manage. Despite the injuries, Stuttgart have shown remarkable adaptability this season. Hoeness is expected to retain the fluid, attack-minded 4-2-3-1 structure that has produced some of the Bundesliga’s most effective football so far, with an emphasis on quick vertical transitions, aggressive pressing, and intelligent movement between the lines.
Alexander Nubel continues as Stuttgart’s No. 1, with the back four likely consisting of Lorenz Assignon at right-back, Finn Jeltsch and Dan-Axel Zagadou forming the central defensive partnership, and Maximilian Mittelstadt slotting in at left-back. In midfield, Wataru Endo-like enforcer Atakan Karazor will sit deepest, offering ball recovery and structure, while Angelo Stiller partners him to provide distribution and tempo control.
Ahead of them, the attacking midfield trio should include Badredine Bouanani on the right, Bilal El Khannouss operating centrally as the creative hub, and Jamie Leweling offering dynamism on the left flank. Leading the attack, in-form striker Deniz Undav is expected to spearhead the front line, tasked with stretching Dortmund’s back three and capitalising on any transitional opportunities.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Nubel; Assignon, Jeltsch, Zagadou, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Bouanani, El Khannouss, Leweling; Undav
Key Stats
- Stuttgart have won each of their last five meetings with Borussia Dortmund, their longest winning run in this fixture in over 30 years.
- Borussia Dortmund have conceded only seven goals in their first 10 Bundesliga matches, the second-best defensive record in the league behind Bayern Munich.
- Stuttgart have already recorded six league victories this season, a tally bettered only by Bayern, reflecting their strong start under Sebastian Hoeness. Dortmund are unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga this season, collecting 13 points from a possible 15 at Signal Iduna Park.
- Stuttgart have scored 22 goals in their last eight matches across all competitions, averaging 2.75 goals per game during that run, showcasing their attacking depth and efficiency.
Player to Watch
Serhou Guirassy
Few forwards in the Bundesliga have been as consistently decisive in 2025 as Serhou Guirassy, and all eyes will once again be on the Stuttgart talisman as he returns to Signal Iduna Park, a stage where he has previously left his mark. Now leading the line for Borussia Dortmund, Guirassy’s presence adds an irresistible narrative to this clash, as he faces the very club whose colours he wore so prolifically.
The experienced striker’s game is built on a blend of physical dominance, clinical finishing, and intelligent movement. Whether dropping deep to link play or attacking the penalty area with explosive timing, he remains a constant threat. His ability to operate with his back to goal not only creates space for Dortmund’s dynamic attacking midfielders but also forces opposing defenders into uncomfortable duels.
His scoring instinct makes him the natural focal point of Dortmund’s attack, but it is his all-round influence, pressing from the front, pinning centre-backs, and creating overloads in tight pockets, that elevates the team’s entire offensive structure. Against a Stuttgart side that presses aggressively and transitions with pace, Guirassy’s hold-up play and decision-making will be crucial in helping Dortmund maintain control.
Facing his former teammates adds an emotional dimension, but Guirassy has shown repeatedly that he thrives under pressure. If Dortmund are to break a five-match losing run against Stuttgart, Guirassy will almost certainly have to be at the heart of it.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-2 VfB Stuttgart
Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart arrive at this matchup level on points and full of ambition, but their recent head-to-head history paints a very different picture. Stuttgart have dominated this fixture for more than three years, winning five straight meetings, and they will come into Signal Iduna Park with the confidence of a side that has repeatedly exposed Dortmund’s structural weaknesses.
That said, this is not the same Dortmund that collapsed in previous seasons. Under Niko Kovac, they boast one of the Bundesliga’s strongest defensive records and have shown greater discipline, especially at home, where they remain unbeaten this season. The break has also allowed Dortmund to reset mentally after stumbling into the pause.
Stuttgart, meanwhile, continue to impress with their dynamic, high-energy football under Sebastian Hoeness, even with key injuries. Their ability to transition quickly and overwhelm opponents with movement and aggression remains one of the league’s most dangerous weapons.
This match-up feels balanced: Borussia Dortmund’s defensive stability versus Stuttgart’s relentless attacking patterns. With Serhou Guirassy leading the line against his former club and Angelo Stiller pushing for a response after his national team snub, key individual moments will make the difference.
