Borussia Dortmund's new era under manager Niko Kovac begins this Saturday as they host Stuttgart at Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga. Dortmund currently sits 11th with 29 points, while Stuttgart, in fifth, has 32 points after 20 matchweeks. This crucial fixture could significantly impact Dortmund’s push for European football.
Dortmund’s Recent Form & Tactical Outlook
BVB secured a 2-1 victory over Heidenheim on February 1, dominating the game with an expected goals (xG) tally of over two while conceding none. However, defensive concerns persist, as Dortmund has failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 consecutive matches. The team has found the back of the net eight times in their last four matches but has also conceded six goals in the same period.
New boss Niko Kovac brings Bundesliga experience from Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt. With Dortmund just four points away from the Champions League spots, Kovac will be eager to make an immediate impact.
Stuttgart’s Recent Form & Tactical Outlook
Stuttgart comes into the match after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach in their last Bundesliga game. However, they bounced back with a 1-0 win over Augsburg in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.
Sebastian Hoeness' side has been inconsistent, losing three of their last four matches but winning eight of their previous nine before that. Stuttgart’s away form remains strong, winning four of their past five matches on the road. However, their defensive frailties have seen them concede nine times in their last five outings.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Dortmund will be without key defenders Nico Schlotterbeck (suspension) and Niklas Sule (injury). This could force Kovac to deploy Emre Can as a makeshift center-back alongside Waldemar Anton. Felix Nmecha is also sidelined until March, meaning Pascal Gross and Marcel Sabitzer may form the midfield pivot.
Dortmund’s Predicted XI: Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Anton, Bensebaini; Gross, Sabitzer; Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
Stuttgart Team News
Stuttgart will be without defenders Dan-Axel Zagadou and Ameen Al Dakhil. As a result, Josha Vagnoman, Julian Chabot, Ramon Hendriks, and Maximilian Mittelstadt could feature in defense. Midfielder Enzo Millot is also unavailable, likely forcing a midfield partnership of Angelo Stiller and Atakan Karazor.
Stuttgart’s Predicted XI: Nubel; Vagnoman, Chabot, Hendriks, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Larsen; Undav, Woltemade
Match Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Stuttgart
Dortmund’s home advantage and new manager bounce could make them favorites, but Stuttgart’s strong away form suggests this will be a tightly contested battle. Given BVB’s defensive vulnerabilities, Stuttgart is likely to find the net, making a 2-2 draw a reasonable prediction.
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