Title-chasing Borussia Dortmund will welcome Bayer Leverkusen to Signal Iduna Park on Sunday for another huge clash in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season.
Venue: Signal Iduna Park (Dortmund)
Key Statistics
Borussia Dortmund have won four of their last five home games in all competitions.
The hosts have the best home record in the league this season (W9, L1).
They have scored 31 goals at home this season. No side has scored more.
Marco Reus has only scored more times against Werder Bremen and Mainz (14) than against Leverkusen (11), and he has scored six in his last six games against Die Werkself.
Bayer Leverkusen have lost three of their last five away games in all competitions (W2).
Leverkusen’s 49 goals after 20 games is a new club record.
Bayer have claimed 18 points from a possible 30 on the road. Only Bayern have taken more (25).
Head to head
In 28 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Borussia Dortmund hold the clear advantage. They have won 16 games, lost six and drawn six.
There have been a total of 50 goals over the last 10 meetings between these two clubs.
Latest performances in all competitions
BVB: W-L-W-W-L
Leverkusen: W-W-D-L-D
Borussia Dortmund
Second-placed Dortmund will look to keep the pressure on Bayern Munich in their race for the title when they welcome third-placed Bayer Leverkusen to Signal Iduna Park.
The hosts are sitting six points behind the leaders and come into this game on the back of a 3-2 win over Sebastian Hoeness’ Hoffenheim in the league. Goals from Norwegian superstar Erling Braut Haaland and captain attacker Marco Reus and an own goal from Hoffenheim’s left-back David Raum ensured victory for Marco Rose’s Borussia Dortmund.
Although the hosts scored two goals through Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric and young French attacker Georginio Rutter, their goals only proved to be a mere consolation for Hoffenheim.
‘Die Schwarzgelben’ return to the Westfalenstadion where they have picked up 27 of a possible 30 points. They will be confident of continuing their imperious form at home.
Possible Dortmund starting line-up
Gregor Kobel, Marius Wolf, Manuel Akanji, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Raphael Guerreiro, Julian Brandt, Axel Witsel, Jude Bellingham, Marco Reus, Donyell Malen, Thorgan Hazard.
Injured: Mateu Morey, Marcel Schmelzer
Doubtful: Manuel Akanji, Mats Hummels, Mahmoud Dahoud, Emre Can, Giovanni Reyna, Erling Braut Haaland, Thomas Meunier
Suspended: None
Bayer Leverkusen
Champions League hopefuls Leverkusen travel to the Westfalenstadion looking to pick up the three points that will keep their quest for a top-four finish alive.
The visitors come into this tie on the back of a 5-1 win over Markus Weinzierl’s Augsburg in the Bundesliga. A hat-trick from French winger Moussa Diaby and goals from winger Karim Bellarabi and Argentine striker Lucas Alario sealed the deal for Gerardo Seoane’s side.
Augsburg scored through midfielder Arne Maier, but his goal was only enough to extend Leverkusen’s wait for a clean sheet to eleven games.
Seoane’s side will now face their North Rhine-Westphalia counterparts sitting third in the table. However, they are eight points behind their hosts and are just two points ahead of Freiburg who are currently occupying fifth place.
After a two-year hiatus from the UCL, things are looking up for ‘Die Werkself’ who can solidify their grip of third spot if they win this game. Given that they have the division’s second-best away record in this campaign (W5, D3, L2), they will fancy their chances of getting a famous victory in this clash.
However, Leverkusen are still leaking goals at an alarming rate (1.6 goals per league outing) which doesn’t bode well for this meeting against free-scoring Dortmund.
Possible Leverkusen starting line-up
Lukas Hradecky, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie, Mitchel Bakker, Charles Aranguiz, Karim Bellarabi, Florian Wirtz, Amine Adli, Moussa Diaby, Patrik Schick.
Injured: Andrey Lunyov, Julian Baumgartlinger, Daley Sinkgraven
Doubtful: Exequiel Palacios, Paulinho
Unavailable: Edmond Tapsoba
Suspended: None
Prediction
BVB 2-0 Leverkusen
