Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Bundesliga clash between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Borussia Dortmund to assume Bayern Munich at the start of the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.
The two rivals go to the klassiker tied on 15 points from eight games, with Bayern one place ahead of their next opponents due to a significantly higher goal difference.
match preview
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Despite losing two of their last three league games, Dortmund should go into their meeting with Bayern full of confidence, especially after posting an impressive 4-1 victory against Sevilla in the Champions League midway through week.
england international Jude Bellinghamwho captained BVB in Seville, became the first teenager to score in three consecutive Champions League games, with Raphael Guerrero, Karim Adeyemi Y Julian Brandt everyone getting into the spreadsheet, too, like Edin TerzicThe team bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 loss to FC Koln last weekend.
Dortmund had many players absent through injury before their trip to Cologne but, having led at half-time thanks to Brandt’s goal, will have been disappointed to have left empty-handed, especially as the defeat allowed Bayern to return. to get ahead of them in the league. table before Der Klassiker.
Still, if Terzic had been offered level on points with the Bavarians at this stage of the season, as well as earning six points from a possible nine to open a five-point gap to second place in Group G, then the 39 year old player. -The old man may well have taken it.
Given the relative lack of form of their upcoming opponents of late, it may well feel like it’s time for Dortmund to deliver in front of a raucous Westfalenstadion and show they have what it takes to stay the course in the title race this week. campaign.
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Bayern returned to winning ways in the Bundesliga last Friday night with a 4-0 drubbing of hapless Bayer Leverkusen, with leroy sane, jamal musiala, sadio mane Y Thomas Muller each score to demonstrate the enviable firepower of the Bavarians.
julian nagelsmanThe team backed this up with a 5-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic on Tuesday night, retaining their 100% Champions League record so far this season and edging out six points from third Barcelona qualified in Group C in the process.
However, Bayern’s trip to Dortmund on Saturday may well be their toughest test of the season so far, which could provide a more accurate measure of whether they have put behind their remarkable run of four league games without a win before international break.
With two of its most experienced leaders in Muller and Joshua Kimmich unavailable after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, he will also push his team’s depth to the limit, especially in central midfield where they are short on numbers compared to most of Europe’s elite sides.
Still, with the likes of Sane and Mane in excellent goalscoring form of late, there is no doubt that Nagelsmann’s side have the ability to demolish any opponent on their day, and they may see Der Klassiker as the perfect combination for them. truly achieve his season. get back on track.
Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga form:
Form of Borussia Dortmund (all competitions):
Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:
Bayern Munich form (all competitions):
team news
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mario wolf Y hummel mats he did not travel with the rest of the squad to Seville in the middle of the week, as they both suffered from a common cold.
However, both are likely to be available given the magnitude of Saturday’s clash, with Hummels set to return to the heart of the defense instead of niklas sulethat he may miss the opportunity to overtake his old team following his summer move from Munich to Dortmund.
Goalie Gregor Kobel was named in a team of the day for the first time in more than a month on Wednesday after a muscle strain, and should be fit enough to displace Alexander Mayer between the posts.
Matthew Morey, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Mahmoud Dahoud and club captain Marco Reus all remain sidelined through injury, however, while sebastien haller is not available for the foreseeable future due to a testicular tumor.
Donyell Malen Y Karem Adeyemi both played twice last week following their injuries before the international break and look ready to start in attack given their transition skills. Depending on the system Terzic opts for, Brandt could join them in a system with no strikers, no Antonio Modeste either Youssoufa Moukoko hugely impressive as a constant focal point of late.
Meanwhile, Bayern have been rocked by Muller and Kimmich, both of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, meaning that Marcel Sabitzer Y Leon Goretzka they can line up next to each other in midfield for the first time this season.
Mane moved to the left flank to accommodate Serge Gnabry in a more central role in midweek, and Nagelsmann could use a similar fluid system on Saturday, with Musiala operating between the lines.
lucas hernandez, Bouna Sarr Y kingsley eat They are expected to be unavailable due to injury, with the Bayern defense almost picking themselves.
Possible Borussia Dortmund starting line-up:
Kobel; Meunier, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Guerrero; Bellingham, Can, Ozcan; Adeyemi, Brandt, Malen
Possible starting line-up for Bayern Munich:
Neuer; Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies; Sabitzer, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Mane; gnabry
We say: Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Bayern Munich
We expect to see an entertaining Der Klassiker on Saturday, with both teams having plenty of attacking power.
However, Bayern seemed close to returning to their best form last week, scoring nine goals in two games combined, and should have too much quality for their opponents.
For data analysis of the most probable results, scores and more for this match, click here.
Better advice
Our expert prediction partners at Sporita.com predict more than 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they’re predicting for this game and for more of their tried and tested soccer tips.More than 2.5: data