Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen meet for the second time in three days as a spot in the DFB-Pokal Round 4 beckons.
Barely seventy-two hours after their fierce Bundesliga clash at the BayArena, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are set to collide again, this time with a place in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals on the line. The quick turnaround adds an extra layer of tactical intrigue to a tie featuring two of Germany’s most attack-minded sides, each determined to keep their cup hopes alive.
For Borussia Dortmund, Saturday’s 2-1 victory in Leverkusen could not have arrived at a more important moment. Following a string of frustrating league draws, the win helped Niko Kovac stabilise the mood in his camp and restore some much-needed belief as Bayern Munich continue to set an unforgiving pace at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Goals from Aaron Anselmino and Karim Adeyemi sealed the triumph, highlighting both Dortmund’s youth-driven resurgence and their capacity to strike with clinical intent when the moment presents itself. However, the Black and Yellows must now temporarily set aside their league ambitions to focus on a competition that continues to elude them.
Despite lifting the DFB-Pokal in 2021, their recent journeys through the cup have been far from comfortable. They scraped past Rot-Weiss Essen in the opening round and needed penalties to dispatch Eintracht Frankfurt in the round of 16. It has not been convincing, but knockout football rarely rewards aesthetics, results are everything, and Dortmund supporters will expect their side to summon the ruthless edge needed to eliminate a top-tier rival.
Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, make the short trip west still stinging from Saturday’s defeat, a loss that halted an impressive four-match winning streak in emphatic fashion. Across those four victories, Die Werkself had piled in twelve goals while conceding just one, a run that seemed to signal the start of a sustained push across all competitions.
The defeat to Borussia Dortmund has not undone that progress, but it has reintroduced doubts that Kasper Hjulmand had been working hard to erase. Since replacing Erik ten Hag just three games into the season, a decision that raised eyebrows across Germany, the Dane has largely met expectations, albeit with a few stumbles.
The team still carries the shadows and standards of the Xabi Alonso era, and the Danish manager has handled that pressure admirably, guiding Bayer Leverkusen back into the Bundesliga title conversation while managing Europe with confidence and clarity.
This cup tie holds particular significance for Leverkusen, who lifted the DFB-Pokal just two seasons ago. That recent success remains fresh in the memory, and many within the squad still see the competition as an invaluable chance to secure silverware in a season where the league title may prove elusive.
Winning away at Signal Iduna Park is never straightforward, but Bayer Leverkusen arrive with both the firepower and tactical identity to make this another enthralling chapter in their growing rivalry with Dortmund. 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 this DFB-Pokal tie with a couple of significant absentees that will shape Niko Kovac’s selection. Maximilian Beier, who returned from international duty with a standout performance against VfB Stuttgart, scoring once and assisting another in a 3-3 thriller, has since suffered a muscle injury.
The 23-year-old missed the league win over Bayer Leverkusen and the previous match, and he is expected to remain unavailable for this cup fixture. His absence removes one of Borussia Dortmund’s most versatile attacking options.
In defence, Niklas Sule continues to struggle with a persistent toe injury that has limited him for several weeks. Despite making progress, he is not yet fit enough for competitive action, leaving Kovac with fewer rotation options at centre-back. Borussia Dortmund otherwise have no new suspensions or issues, but the short turnaround between matches may prompt subtle changes to protect players from fatigue.
The home side are expected to maintain their 3-4-2-1 structure, the shape that has provided balance between defensive solidity and attacking fluidity. Gregor Kobel will start in goal, commanding the backline with his usual authority. In front of him, the defensive trio should consist of Aaron Anselmino, Waldemar Anton, and Nico Schlotterbeck, a combination that blends youth, athleticism, and ball-playing ability.
On the flanks, Julian Ryerson will operate as the right wing-back, offering aggression in the press and energy in transition, while Daniel Svensson is expected to continue on the left, providing width and supporting both phases of play. In central midfield, Marcel Sabitzer partners Felix Nmecha, with Sabitzer tasked with dictating tempo and Nmecha bringing ball-carrying thrust through the middle.
Ahead of them, Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi will fill the two advanced midfield roles, drifting between lines to unlock Leverkusen’s defence and support the striker. Leading the line will be Serhou Guirassy, whose physical presence, movement off the shoulder, and finishing ability make him crucial in a knockout setting.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anselmino, Anton, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen face their own complications heading into this DFB-Pokal clash, as Kasper Hjulmand must once again navigate a growing injury list. Brazilian defender Arthur has been nursing a back injury since returning from the November international break, and although his condition has improved, he remains a serious doubt for Tuesday’s meeting with Dortmund.
In midfield, Ezequiel Fernandez continues to struggle with a persistent knee issue that has sidelined him for more than a month, while fellow Argentine Exequiel Palacios is still hampered by a groin problem that has prevented him from regaining full training rhythm. Leverkusen’s depth takes another hit with Axel Tape, the highly rated teenage winger, who has been sidelined with a thigh injury and is not expected to recover in time for this cup fixture.
Meanwhile, experienced full-back Lucas Vazquez remains unavailable as he works his way back from a muscular injury that has kept him out for an extended spell. None of the injured players are expected to feature, leaving Hjulmand with limited room to rotate in key areas.
Despite these setbacks, Bayer Leverkusen are expected to stay loyal to their established 3-4-2-1 framework, a shape that has provided both attacking overloads and defensive balance in recent weeks. Mark Flekken starts in goal, tasked with organising the back line and helping Leverkusen build from deep. Ahead of him, the defensive trio should consist of Robert Andrich, Loic Bade, and Edmond Tapsoba, combining physicality, anticipation, and the comfort to step into midfield when needed.
The wing-back roles will be played by contrasting profiles: on the right, Jonas Hofmann brings intelligence and crossing quality, while on the left, Alejandro Grimaldo offers creativity, set-piece threat, and incisive movement into central spaces. Holding the midfield together are Aleix García and Ibrahim Maza, a pairing selected for their blend of control, ball security, and tactical discipline.
In the two advanced midfield roles, Malik Tillman and Ernest Poku will operate between lines, drifting into pockets to link play with the lone striker, Patrik Schick. The Czech forward leads the Bayer Leverkusen attack, offering penalty-box presence, aerial strength, and sharp movement that can trouble Borussia Dortmund’s back three.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Andrich, Bade, Tapsoba; Hofmann, Maza, García, Grimaldo; Tillman, Poku; Schick
Key Stats
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Borussia Dortmund have progressed from each of their last six DFB-Pokal home ties, a run dating back to 2019. Their last cup elimination at Signal Iduna Park came five years ago, highlighting the strength of their knockout record on home turf.
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Bayer Leverkusen have scored at least twice in five of their last six competitive matches, illustrating the attacking consistency Kasper Hjulmand has preserved despite inheriting the squad mid-season. Their only exception was Saturday’s defeat to Dortmund.
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Borussia Dortmund have lost just one of their last nine meetings with Bayer Leverkusen at home in all competitions, reinforcing the difficulty Die Werkself have historically faced when travelling to Signal Iduna Park.
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Both sides have conceded in each of their last five head-to-head encounters, with the previous five meetings producing a combined 22 goals. This fixture has averaged 4.4 goals per game in that stretch, one of the highest among recurring top-flight matchups in Germany.
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Bayer Leverkusen have failed to keep a clean sheet in the DFB-Pokal since their 2022 title-winning campaign, conceding in four straight cup matches. Dortmund, meanwhile, have scored in every DFB-Pokal game since October 2021.
Player to Watch
Serhou Guirassy
If Borussia Dortmund are to take command of this third-round tie, much will hinge on the presence and precision of Serhou Guirassy. The striker has quickly become the focal point of Niko Kovac’s attack, offering a blend of physical dominance, smart movement, and ice-cold finishing that the Black and Yellows have often lacked in high-pressure cup fixtures.
Guirassy’s ability to pin centre-backs and create pockets of space for runners around him will be crucial against a Bayer Leverkusen side that prefers to commit numbers forward. His hold-up play and willingness to operate with his back to goal provide Borrusia Dortmund with an important release valve when Die Werkself attempt to suffocate the midfield through aggressive pressing.
Moreover, the Guinean international remains one of the Bundesliga’s most reliable penalty-box forwards. Whether attacking low cut-backs, arriving late for second phases, or timing his runs across defenders, Guirassy consistently positions himself in situations where a single chance can decide a knockout tie. In a match of tight margins, his composure could prove decisive.
This is precisely the kind of environment in which Guirassy thrives: a physical contest, a high-tempo opponent, and a squad looking for a clinical edge. If Dortmund are to reach the quarter-finals, Guirassy’s impact in both buildup and scoring moments may well define the outcome.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
With only three days separating this cup tie from their Bundesliga encounter, both teams come into the rematch carrying not only tactical familiarity but also emotional residue. Borussia Dortmund will feel they struck an important psychological blow at the weekend, rediscovering their sharpness in transition and applying the level of intensity Niko Kovac has demanded for weeks.
Playing at Signal Iduna Park further amplifies their advantage, with the home crowd often transforming knockout fixtures into tests of nerve as much as quality. Bayer Leverkusen, however, should not be underestimated. Despite Saturday’s setback, Kasper Hjulmand’s side remain one of the most fluid attacking units in Germany, and their ability to overwhelm opponents in quick attacking waves makes them dangerous even when away from home.
What complicates their hopes here is the growing injury list and the defensive gaps exposed in the league defeat, areas Borussia Dortmund are well-equipped to exploit, especially with Serhou Guirassy leading the line.
Both sides will create chances, and the match should carry the wide-open tempo typical of recent meetings. But the hosts have been the more resilient team in knockout scenarios this season, and the atmosphere in their stadium tends to tilt tight games in their favour.