It will be fourth versus fifth in the Bundesliga on Saturday when 4th-placed Eintracht Frankfurt welcome 5th-placed Borussia Dortmund to the Deutsche Bank Park at 17:30 GMT, as both teams seek to claim the three points they need to climb the table into the Champions League places.
Match Preview
Can Eintracht make it Three Consecutive Wins in the Bundesliga?
Oliver Glasner’s charges will be looking to extend their good run of form in the Bundesliga and retain their top-four status as the Bundesliga rolls into its 12th round on Saturday.
Eintracht will focus on displaying a high-tempo and high-energy performance against Dortmund. They will seek to be aggressive off the ball and adventurous when in possession.
Pressing and counter-pressing will be crucial tools to disrupt the Dortmund flow; this will be important in defending against the pace of Dortmund’s attackers while also posing an attacking threat.
Can Dortmund Leapfrog Eintracht into 4th on the Table with a Win?
Dortmund have been in indifferent form in recent matches. This has seen their title-challenging hopes take a massive hit. They have fallen from the top of the table to 5th and currently trail league leaders Union Berlin by four points.
Edin Terzić and his men will be aware of the threat posed by Eintracht, especially among their attacking players. Their tactics will be designed to counter the strengths of the hosts while exploiting their weaknesses.
Dortmund will stick with their high-pressing and high-energy style; they will seek to progress the ball quickly and press Frankfurt across the pitch.
Form Guide
Eintracht
Fourth-placed Eintracht have won six times, drawn twice, and lost three times in their 11 rounds of Bundesliga fixtures.
With 24 goals scored and 18 conceded, Glasner’s charges have been exciting and have thus far hauled 20 points from the available 33, which means they are just three points behind league leaders Union Berlin.
Eintracht currently sit 4th on the log, and within the Champion League places, which highlights their positive start to the season.
In their last five outings in the Bundesliga, they have won four times and lost just once. They have hauled 12 points and dropped three in the process.
Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have started the season in an indifferent and inconsistent form. Out of the opening 11 rounds of Bundesliga fixtures played so far this term, Edin Terzić’s charges have won six times, drawn once, and lost four times.
Dortmund’s run of form has seen them score 18 goals and concede 14 times. Although their attack has been fairly lethal, their defence has lacked the solidity they need to bolster their assault on the Bundesliga title this season.
So far, they have accumulated 19 points out of the available 33; they are a point behind their Saturday opponents Eintracht.
Possible Starting Lineups
Eintracht
K. Trapp; E. Ndicka, K. Jakic, Tuta; C. Lenz, D. Sow, D. Kamada, E, J. Dina Ebimbe; M. Gotze, J. Lindstrom; R. Kolo Muani
Dortmund
G. Kobel; N. Sule, M. Hummels, N. Schlotterbeck, R. Guerreiro; J. Bellingham, S. Ozcan; K. Adeyemi, J. Brandt, G. Reyna; Y. Muokoko
Players to Watch
R. Kolo Muani
Muani has three goals in 10 appearances for Eintracht in the Bundesliga this term. He has also scored one goal in five appearances in the Champions League this season.
The 23-year-old French national has shown his value to the team through his goal-scoring, creativity, and work rate.
His physical presence and pace are also important attributes for Eintracht in driving at defenders and opening them up to create and take chances. Muani will be important for Eintracht in their clash with Dortmund on Saturday.
J. Bellingham
The 19-year-old England international has struck two goals in 11 appearances for Dortmund in the Bundesliga this term. He has also notched 4 goals in 5 matches in the Champions League.
The midfielder’s all-action style fits Dortmund and makes him the beating heartbeat in the middle of the pack. He will be crucial as Dortmund seek to regain consistency this season.
Prediction
Eintracht will focus on their discipline, pragmatism, and compactness without the ball. They will look to pass quickly when in possession to create chances.
Dortmund will employ a high-press style with their focus being on dominating the match and dictating the tempo of the clash.
A draw is the likely result in this clash with the sides sharing the points.
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