Borussia Dortmund will look to get their Bundesliga season back on track when they host Union Berlin at Signal Iduna Park this Saturday. After suffering a 2-0 defeat to VfL Bochum on February 15, Dortmund finds themselves in 11th place with 29 points, just five points ahead of Union Berlin.
Borussia Dortmund's Struggles Continue
Dortmund's recent form has been troubling, with their 2-0 loss to Bochum showing a lackluster display in both defense and attack. Despite a strong first-half performance from Bochum, Dortmund’s second-half was poor, producing just one shot on target and a low expected goals (xG) of 0.46. They’ve now conceded at least two goals in six of their last seven Bundesliga matches, with 16 goals conceded during that span.
Under Niko Kovac, who took over in January following the dismissal of Nuri Sahin, Dortmund has struggled in the league, losing both of Kovac’s league matches. While Dortmund showed resilience in the Champions League, advancing to the round of 16 with a 3-0 aggregate win over Sporting Lisbon, their domestic form remains a concern. Their home record is also troubling, with just one win in their last eight matches at Signal Iduna Park.
Union Berlin's Difficult Season
Union Berlin has also struggled recently, suffering a 2-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach on February 15. Their form has been inconsistent, and they have failed to score in four of their last seven matches. Union's defensive performance in their previous encounter with Dortmund, winning 2-1 on October 5, will give them confidence going into this match, but their offensive struggles could hinder their chances.
Under Steffen Baumgart, Union Berlin has managed to pick up a few wins, but they have been far from convincing. Their record of 21 goals scored is one of the worst in the Bundesliga, and their away form has been poor, losing their last seven away fixtures before their 4-0 win over Hoffenheim on February 8. Union will have to show more consistency if they are to challenge Dortmund on their own turf.
Key Player Insights
For Borussia Dortmund, midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and defender Emre Can will play pivotal roles. With Felix Nmecha sidelined, Sabitzer and Pascal Gross will partner in midfield, while Can is expected to maintain his role as a center-back. First-choice striker Serhou Guirassy will be supported by wingers Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Karim Adeyemi, both of whom will need to step up to create chances.
Union Berlin, on the other hand, will miss midfielder Aljoscha Kemlein, but Janik Haberer and Rani Khedira could fill in the double pivot. Defensive stability will be crucial for Union, with the likes of Josip Juranovic and Danilho Doekhi expected to lead the backline. In attack, Woo-Yeong Jeong, Marin Ljubicic, Benedict Hollerbach, and Andrej Ilic will be relied upon to create chances and find the back of the net.
Borussia Dortmund Possible Starting Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Kobel
- Defenders: Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Svensson
- Midfielders: Sabitzer, Gross
- Forwards: Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens, Guirassy
Union Berlin Possible Starting Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Ronnow
- Defenders: Juranovic, Doekhi, Leite, Rothe
- Midfielders: Haberer, Khedira
- Forwards: Jeong, Ljubicic, Hollerbach, Ilic
Match Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Union Berlin
Given Union Berlin’s struggles on the road and Dortmund’s desperate need for a league win, it's hard to see them failing to secure all three points at home. Kovac’s side could come into the match motivated by their European success, and with Union Berlin struggling both defensively and offensively, Dortmund should edge this encounter 3-1.
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