The Daily Star Ireland
The first half of Borussia Dortmund’s season has been underwhelming, leaving both the management and the passionate fans at the WestfalenStadion dissatisfied. Expected to challenge Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race, Dortmund has already fallen behind due to inconsistent performances and missed opportunities. Currently sitting in sixth place, they are two points away from third but a daunting 11 points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich. Before the winter break, Dortmund had a string of three consecutive 1-1 draws against Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Hoffenheim before finally securing a 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg in their last game. In the Champions League, Dortmund is in a competitive position, sitting ninth overall, and aiming to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen, last season’s surprise Bundesliga champions, are proving their credentials once again. They are currently in second place, trailing Bayern by four points. Under Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen has displayed excellent form, winning their last five league matches against Heidenheim (5-2), Union Berlin (2-1), Sankt Pauli (2-1), Augsburg (2-0), and Freiburg (5-1) before the break. They are also well-positioned in fourth place in the Champions League standings, with a strong chance of advancing to the knockout stages in the final two group-stage games.
Dortmund is dealing with multiple absences, complicating their preparation. Defenders Süle and Filippo Mané are injured, while full-back Ryerson is sidelined due to illness. Midfielder Sabitzer remains doubtful, and Gross is suspended following a red card in their last match. Despite this, Guirassy remains their top scorer in the league with six goals, followed by Gittens with five and Malen and Beier with three each. However, Guirassy’s current form does not match his standout performances from last season with Stuttgart.
Leverkusen also faces injury concerns. Former Toulouse player Amine Adli is sidelined until March with a severe ankle injury sustained in a Champions League match against Brest. Hofmann and striker Boniface are doubtful, with Boniface unlikely to feature. In attack, Czech forward Patrick Schick, who netted four goals against Freiburg before the break, is expected to lead the line. Schick has scored nine Bundesliga goals this season. The influential Florian Wirtz, one of the league’s top players with seven goals and seven assists, will also play a crucial role.
Prediction
Given the attacking styles of both teams, a high-scoring encounter is anticipated. Dortmund has seen over 2.5 goals in six of their last nine Bundesliga games, while Leverkusen matches have featured at least three goals in 14 of their last 17 outings. Both teams’ defensive vulnerabilities further suggest a goal-filled contest.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen.
