In the first Bundesliga game since the end of the league's winter break, Borussia Dortmund will welcome champions Bayer Leverkusen to Signal Iduna Park on Friday.
The Black and Yellows are sixth in the table with 25 points from 15 games and beat Wolfsburg 3-1 on December 22 in their last game before the break, while Leverkusen are in second place with 32 points and are just four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Match preview
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The winter break came at a good time for Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin considering his side have only won one of their last five matches, drawing three and losing one in that period.
Sahin's side were utterly dominant in the first half against Wolfsburg, creating nearly three xG and scoring three times between the 25th and 30th minutes, and they managed to hold out in the second half despite being reduced to 10 men with half an hour to go.
Attacker Julian Brandt spoke in the aftermath of the victory about the team's need to mature quickly, saying: "It's not like everything is completely bad. It's just that we have to learn to grow up. It's still a development, but it has to arrive somewhere at some point."
Having scored 28 goals in the Bundesliga, Dortmund not only rank as the league's joint sixth-best offensive side but are also on track to score their fewest goals in the top flight since they netted 47 times and finished seventh in 2014-15.
The Black and Yellows' rearguard record is poor given they have conceded on 22 occasions – the eighth-best defensive return – and have only kept three clean sheets in 15 league outings.
Dortmund have lost one and drawn two of their last three home fixtures, though they did triumph in their prior 11 at Signal Iduna Park.
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As for the champions, they come into Friday's clash having defeated Freiburg 5-1 on December 21, a match in which Patrik Schick found the back of the net four times.
Manager Xabi Alonso argued that the victory was hard fought and said that he wanted to use the win as a platform to build on in 2025, saying: "It was a very important victory for us today. We wanted to continue our series and go into the break with a good feeling. We managed that.
"We will continue to attack in the New Year. That gives everyone a good feeling. We have big ambitions to continue fighting for our goals in 2025 and want to achieve a lot together."
Some thought that Alonso's side had fallen away in the title race considering they had already dropped points in six league matches this term, as many as they had in the entirety of their 2023-24 campaign.
However, Leverkusen have won their eight most recent games in all competitions and their last five Bundesliga matches, capitalising on the fact Bayern Munich have dropped four points in their past four league outings.
Die Schwarzroten's form in front of goal has been strong in recent weeks given they have scored 16 goals in their last five top-flight games, though they only prevented their opponents from scoring once in that period.
Leverkusen have achieved victory in their three most recent away fixtures, but it should be noted that they failed to win their previous five on the road, losing one and drawing four.
Team News
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Dortmund's injury crisis has somewhat eased, though they will still be without Pascal Gross because he received a red card last time out, as well as Niklas Sule due to his ankle injury.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is likely to be shielded by centre-backs Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck, and the defence may be protected by midfielders Emre Can and Felix Nmecha.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is certain to start in the final third, while striker Serhou Guirassy may be supported by attacking midfielder Brandt.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen will not be able to select attacker Amine Adli, though Victor Boniface could make a return to action should he pass a late fitness test.
Expect Schick to continue to lead the line in front of Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella if Boniface is not deemed ready to start.
Defender Jeanuel Belocian is not scheduled to return until September, so regular centre-backs Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie could feature in the backline on Friday.
Midfielder Granit Xhaka is a doubt, but should the former Arsenal man play, he will likely be partnered by Exequiel Palacios.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Can; Bynoe-Gittens, Brandt, Beier; Guirassy
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Tella, Wirtz; Schick
We say: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen should feel confident of at least avoiding defeat given their outstanding form of late, though they may find it difficult to overcome Dortmund given their strong record at home.
Sahin's side may feel they can create chances on Friday considering the visitors have struggled to keep clean sheets in recent weeks, but it would not be surprising if the champions also created opportunities in the final third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
