An early season Bundesliga blockbuster is set for this Saturday as current table-toppers RB Leipzig make the trip west to face a Borussia Dortmund side desperate to turn their floundering campaign around. BVB have endured a nightmare start under new head coach Nuri Şahin, with last weekend’s insipid 1-0 defeat away to FC Augsburg leaving them languishing in the bottom half.
That result came on the back of Şahin receiving widespread criticism for his in-game management during Dortmund’s midweek Champions League capitulation against Real Madrid, seeing a 2-0 lead evaporate into an embarrassing 5-2 loss. Matters went from bad to worse for the rookie boss as his depleted side crashed out of the DFB-Pokal to Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
Dortmund Seek Home Comfort Against Rampant Leipzig
There have been precious few bright spots for the Schwarzgelben faithful so far this term, but they will hope their fortunes change back on home soil. Dortmund boast a 100% record in all competitions at Signal Iduna Park, though they did ship five goals in a wild win over VfB Stuttgart in their only previous home outing against German opposition.
By contrast, Marco Rose’s Leipzig have been a model of consistency, with their miserly defense breached just three times in the Bundesliga. Die Roten Bullen have been particularly impressive on their travels, earning victories in two of their last three visits to Dortmund.
A source close to the Leipzig camp expressed confidence ahead of the clash, highlighting the absence of key BVB personnel:
We fancy our chances against anyone right now, and that’s especially true with Dortmund missing a few important players. Our lads are hungry to keep this run going and put some daylight between us and Bayern at the top.
– Anonymous RB Leipzig insider
Alonso’s Leverkusen Look to Maintain Momentum
Friday night sees another enticing match-up as Xabi Alonso’s steadily improving Bayer Leverkusen welcome Stuttgart to the BayArena. Previous editions of this fixture have delivered high-octane thrillers, with Leverkusen prevailing in an extra-time DFB-Pokal epic and a penalty shootout in the DFL-Supercup already this year.
Die Werkself have heavily rotated in recent matches with this showdown in mind and will hope to have the fresher legs to continue their three-match winning run in all competitions. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface will look to outgun a dangerous Stuttgart attack featuring in-form Jamie Leweling.
3. Liga Upstarts Arminia Bielefeld Shock Union Berlin
The midweek Pokal action threw up a major upset as 3. Liga side Arminia Bielefeld dumped out high-flying Union Berlin in front of a raucous home crowd. Marius Wörl’s spectacular long-range strike and an Andre Becker effort sealed a famous 2-0 victory for the underdogs.
Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat had promised his team would go “eye to eye” with Union in terms of effort and intensity, and they duly delivered a performance brimming with passion and commitment. Arminia’s giant-killing exploits ensure the 3. Liga will be represented when the draw for the next round is made on Sunday.
Dortmund Face Defining Stretch
Returning to matters at the Westfalenstadion, it’s clear Saturday’s tussle with Leipzig marks the start of a critical juncture for Şahin and Dortmund. The 34-year-old will be acutely aware that patience and goodwill from his bosses could soon run out if results do not improve.
According to an anonymous source familiar with the situation at BVB, Şahin retains the backing of CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and sporting director Lars Ricken for the time being. However, that position could change quickly if Dortmund suffer a heavy loss to the league leaders on home turf.
The board still believes it’s too early to make a change, but there’s no denying things are getting pretty dicey. A bad result against Leipzig and the alarm bells will be deafening.
– Insider close to Dortmund hierarchy
While Şahin will hope a return to the comforts of the Yellow Wall can spark a reversal of fortunes, the quality in Leipzig’s ranks makes them a daunting proposition for any opponent. The likes of Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai have the ability to unlock any defense, while few strikers in the division are as dangerous as Timo Werner.
For the neutral, it promises to be a captivating affair between two of German football’s heavyweight outfits. Dortmund find themselves in the unfamiliar role of wounded underdog, desperate to cling onto their fading Bundesliga title aspirations. Leipzig will aim to twist the knife and assert their championship credentials.
Şahin knows he must find a way to stop the rot and galvanize a splintered squad low on confidence. The former BVB midfielder has fond memories of his playing days in the black and yellow, but he will be left under no illusions of the cutthroat nature of management if Leipzig inflict further misery. In this business, even club legends do not get a free pass.
Saturday’s clash could prove a watershed moment in the embryonic Bundesliga campaign. Will it be the start of a Dortmund revival or another signpost towards an inevitable changing of the guard? Tune in to find out.
