Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Team News & Prediction
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The Bundesliga gets back underway following the winter break with a heavyweight showdown between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website / US – ESPN+
Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Cutting out the goals
Eintracht Frankfurt know where they need to improve. Only one team has conceded more than them so far this campaign, a damning stat when considering that Eintracht currently sit seventh place in the table.
However, Dino Toppmoller’s side have lost just four league games and three points here at home would parachute them back into the European places, at least temporarily ahead of the weekend’s round of fixtures.
Borussia Dortmund preview: Bayern’s closest challengers
Although nine points behind the Bundesliga table toppers, Borussia Dortmund represent Bayern Munich’s biggest competition for the Meisterschale as it stands, with Niko Kovac’s men currently in second-place on 32 points having lost only once in the Bundesliga so far this season.
Dortmund were in excellent form just prior to the break, winning three and drawing one of their last four league matches, conceding just twice across that period. Hopefully for their sake, the winter break hasn’t stifled their momentum and they can pick up right where they left off.
Eintracht Frankfurt team news: Burkardt still out
Eintracht are without a number of players for this encounter, most notably Jonathan Burkardt. Their star striker continues to nurse a calf injury and with Michy Batshuayi also out injured, the hosts may be forced to deploy Ansgar Knauff up top.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Zetterer; Collins, Koch, Theate; Kristensen, Larsson, Dahoud, Brown; Doan, Knauff, Uzun
Unavailable: Batshuayi Injured), Baum (Injured), Burkardt (Injured), Chaibi (International duty), Skhiri (Fitness), Bahoya (Illness)
Questionable:
Borussia Dortmund team news: Kobel a big doubt
Borussia Dortmund could be without with first-choice goalkeeper with illness rendering Gregor Kobel a huge doubt. Ramy Bensebaini is on international, whilst Jobe Bellingham is suspended. Pascal Gross has left the club for a return to former side Brighton.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Meyer; Anton, Can, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Adeyemi, Guirassy, Brandt
Unavailable: Anselmino (Injured), Bellingham (Suspended), Bensebaini (International duty)
Questionable: Kobel (Illness)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund prediction
Whilst Borussia Dortmund have proven defensively strong under Kovac, the potential absence of Kobel combined with Eintracht Frankfurt’s attacking prowess makes the hosts more than likely to find the net at least once in this game. Frankfurt won’t be afraid to take the game to their opponents, especially on home turf and Dortmund’s backline are in for a stiff challenge.
However, with Serhou Guirassy leading the line, expect the visitors to conjure up plenty of big chances themselves, especially against such a fragile defence that leaked goals for fun across the first half of the season. All the ingredients are there for an entertaining battle between these two teams and backing both to score has to be favoured.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund tip: Both teams to score
