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Match Preview: Borussia Dortmund host newly promoted FC Nuremberg

By Oliver Campo

Dortmund's players argue with referee Harm Osmers after sending off Dortmund's French defender Abdou Diallo during the German First division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund in Sinsheim Germany, on September 22, 2018. (Photo by Daniel ROLAND / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo credit should read DANIEL ROLAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Dortmund's players argue with referee Harm Osmers after sending off Dortmund's French defender Abdou Diallo during the German First division Bundesliga football match TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund in Sinsheim Germany, on September 22, 2018. (Photo by Daniel ROLAND / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo credit should read DANIEL ROLAND/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Borussia Dortmund face newly promoted FC Nuremberg at the Westfalenstadion on Wednesday, aiming to maintain their 100% record at the Signal Iduna Park this season.

Match information

Location: Dortmund, Germany

Date: September 26th, 2018

Time: 2:30PM (ETS)/8:30PM (Local time)

SINSHEIM, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 22: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Christian Pulisic of Dortmund is focused during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena on September 22, 2018 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images )
SINSHEIM, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 22: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Christian Pulisic of Dortmund is focused during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena on September 22, 2018 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images ) /

Recent Form

Borussia Dortmund

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Christian Pulisic has been Borussia Dortmund’s savior in the last two games. The American scored the winner in the UEFA Champions League last Tuesday. He followed it up with the equaliser for BVB at Hoffenheim last weekend. Pulisic is in form, but the rest of the players have lacked that consistency.

The attackers have been misfiring in recent games, while the defense does not look as secure anymore. Lucien Favre’s conservative approach hasn’t helped matters and Borussia Dortmund look out of sorts, going into the Nuremberg game.

FC Nuremberg

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FC Nuremberg returned to the Bundesliga this year after finishing in second place behind Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Bundesliga 2 last season. Nuremberg had the best defensive record in the division last season (39 goals) and also scored the second the second most number of goals (61). Michael Kollner will be hoping to keep his side up in the Bundesliga this season and they have certainly made a bright start.

Defensively speaking, Nuremberg have conceded the joint fewest number of goals this season, although they have played one game less than several other teams. Still, this is impressive and Borussia Dortmund will need to carve out space in the final third if they hope to walk away with a win.

Team News

Omer Toprak is still out, but Raphael Guerreiro and Paco Alcacer could return to the side. There is still doubt about whether they are fit to start. Center back Abdou Diallo’s red card against Hoffenheim means that he is also unavailable.

Lucien Favre will make at least one defensive change; Dan-Axel Zagadou is expected to get his first start in center-back, while Achraf Hakimi could also feature for the Black and Yellows.

Opposition Star Man: Fabian Bredlow

NUREMBERG, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 22: Goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow of FC Nuernberg looks on during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Nuernberg and Hannover 96 at Max-Morlock-Stadion on September 22, 2018 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
NUREMBERG, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 22: Goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow of FC Nuernberg looks on during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Nuernberg and Hannover 96 at Max-Morlock-Stadion on September 22, 2018 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

The goalkeeper is 23 years old and is relatively unknown. But the former German youth international’s career has only just started and he has made a fine start to life in the Bundesliga. His record is identical to Roman Burki’s for this season and the saves are just as good. Bredlow has lightening fast reflexes and he has already made some impressive saves this season. Borussia Dortmund will have to be at their best if they are to find the back of the net against Bredlow on Wednesday.

Last Match: Borussia Dortmund 3 FC Nurnberg 0

Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a comfortable win the last time they met Nuremberg (Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a comfortable win the last time they met Nuremberg (Photo by VI Images via Getty Images) /

The last meeting of the teams was January 3, 2014. Jurgen Klopp’s side thrashed FC Nurnberg with goals from Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The now-retired Roman Weidenfeller kept a clean sheet by making wonderful saves against the away side.

Possible Lineups

Borussia Dortmund: Burki, Piszczek, Akanji, Zagadou, Schmelzer, Delaney, Witsel, Pulisic, Kagawa, Reus, Wolf

FC Nurnberg: Bredlow, Valentini, Margreitter, Muhl, Leibold, Behrens, Petrak, Fuchs, Kubo, Misidjan, Ishak

Next. Talking points ahead of Borussia Dortmund vs Nuremberg. dark

Final prediction – Borussia Dortmund  3 FC Nurnberg 0

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