Top of the bill from Saturday’s German Bundesliga games sees Borussia Dortmund take on Schalke from 17:30 GMT in a match set to be shown live on television to a bumper audience. Victory could move the home team top of the league, but they must earn it against a stubborn opponent fighting to lift themselves free of the relegation zone and up the table.
Dortmund made to work
Borussia Dortmund start the weekend third in the German Bundesliga with nine points on the board, one less than early leaders RB Leipzig. The locals have won three and lost one game so far, scoring eight goals and conceding two. They were one of the pre-season favourites to challenge Bayern Munich’s dominance of the division and will take confidence from their strong start.
The home team have won each of their last two games to keep pace with the leading pack. They began with an impressive 4-0 win over Freiburg when last at this venue but were made to work for the points last time by Hoffenheim. 1-0 was the score a week ago with the winning goal coming from Reus with 76 minutes on the clock. A little too close for comfort but it was a deserved victory.
Schalke second from bottom
Schalke fans have had little to cheer in the opening four games of the season and the team can be found down in the relegation zone, sitting second from bottom of the pile. They currently have just one point on the board with their form showing three defeats followed by a draw last time out. That means Schalke are one point better off than Mainz who are rooted to the foot of the division.
The visitors got off the mark at the fourth time of trying when holding FC Union Berlin to a 1-1 draw at home on Sunday. Friedrich scored on 55 minutes for Schalke and fans hoped that would be enough to see them over the line, but Berlin had other ideas, fighting back to snatch a share of the spoils on 69 minutes. Mendes Paciencia got the leveller and there could be no complaints about the result with a draw a fair outcome.
Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke prediction
Borussia Dortmund are the home team enjoying strong recent form and pushing for the top spot in the division. They’ll be made to work by an opponent feeling the pressure but one who took confidence from a draw last time.
Bundesliga odds
Borussia Dortmund are 1.19 to win with Schalke 14.5 and the draw 6.85.
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