The German Bundesliga returns after the winter break with Borussia Dortmund at home against defending champions Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. Nuri Sahin’s men welcome Xabi Alonso’s side to Signal Iduna Park, with BVB having won just one of their last five matches before Christmas. Dortmund beat VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 before the break and have lost one and drawn two of their last three home games, but won all 11 before that.
Leverkusen beat Freiburg 5-1 before the winter break with Patrik Schick scoring four goals and Die Werkself will aim to build on that at the start of 2025. Alonso’s side appeared to have slipped back a bit in the title race considering of his 13 points lost out of six. matches but they are only four behind Bayern Munich in the lead. B04 has won its last three away games, but it has also failed to win in its previous five on the road.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the game and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Friday January 10 | Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Signal Iduna Park – Dortmund, Germany
- Watch: ESPN Sports | Flow: Fubo (try for free)
- Odds: Dortmund +180; Shoot +250; Leverkusen +140
This season so far
Dortmund are sixth with 25 points from a possible 45 while Leverkusen are second with 32 points, putting them four off the top. With 28 goals scored, BVB are the sixth most offensive team in the Bundesliga, but the last time they scored as few as 47 goals in a single season was in 2014-15. Sahin’s men have scored 22 goals, placing them eighth in Germany’s top flight with just three clean sheets in 15 games. B04 have won their last eight competitive matches in all competitions, including their last five Bundesliga games, which coincided with Bayern losing four points. Die Werkself have also scored 16 goals in their last five league matches, but have only been able to deny their opponents once.
Team News
Dortmund: Pascal Gross is suspended while Niklas Sule is injured, so Gregor Kobel should have Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck ahead of him with Emre Can and Felix Nmecha to protect them. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens should start with Serhou Guirassy and Julian Brandt further up the pitch.
Possible Dortmund XI: Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Can; Bynoe-Gittens, Brandt, Beier; Guirassy.
Leverkusen: Amine Adli is absent although Victor Boniface could return while Schick should continue to lead the line supported by Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella. Jeanuel Belocian has been absent for a long time so Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie should start. Granit Xhaka is unsure of starting but could partner Exequiel Palacios in the middle if he proves his fitness.
Possible Leverkusen XI: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palace, Grimaldo; Tella, Wirtz; Schick.
Prediction
This one will likely be a close game as the competition resumes, so don’t be surprised by a draw, although Leverkusen could eclipse the match by a goal. Take: Dortmund 1, Leverkusen 2.
