Bundesliga Preview: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund
By Tushar Bahl
Borussia Dortmund will be hoping to stay perfect in 2019 as they travel to fifth placed Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 20 of the Bundesliga campaign.
Fresh off their five star performance against Hannover 96 last weekend, Borussia Dortmund know that they must keep delivering the goods if they are to lift the Bundesliga title come May. Despite the title pressure, Lucien Favre’s are showing no signs of letting up just yet. However, they will be in for a tough test at the Commerzbank-Arena on Saturday as they take on a free scoring Eintracht Frankfurt side.
Led by the division’s top scorer Luka Jovic, along with Sebastien Haller and Ante Rebic, Frankfurt have plenty of ammunition in their ranks, something Dortmund’s defense will need to be vary of.
However, the Eagles have conceded 26 goals this season and that is something that will give Borussia Dortmund plenty of encouragement heading into the game.
Recent Form
Borussia Dortmund
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Borussia Dortmund continued their remarkable streak with a 5-1 rout of Hannover 96 last weekend. Five players found the net for the Black and Yellows, as they made it to 50 league goals for the campaign. Dortmund have won nine of their last ten games, and they will be aiming to continue their red hot form with a win against Frankfurt this weekend.
Eintracht Frankfurt
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The Eagles’ recent results have been a mixed bag, but Adi Hütter’s side are still having a brilliant season so far. Despite losing Niko Kovac in the summer, Frankfurt are on course for their best finish since the 1993-94 season.
With Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller scoring goals for fun, Eintracht Frankfurt will provide a stern test to Borussia Dortmund’s title credentials. Frankfurt shored up their defense with three signings on deadline day, with Almamy Toure (Monaco), Martin Hinteregger (Augsburg) and Tuta (São Paulo) all arriving at the club. Although it remains to be seen if any of their new signings will feature tomorrow. Dortmund loanee Sebastian Rode will be hoping to make his mark against his parent club.
Team News
Lukasz Piszczek is an injury doubt for Borussia Dortmund after he suffered a knock in training. Dan-Axel Zagadou (metatarsal) is back in full training but its unlikely that Favre will rush him into a return. Manuel Akanji (hip) is Dortmund’s only long term injury absentee. While Leonardo Balerdi is also out with a lip injury.
Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Gelson Fernandes back into the team after he missed the last game through suspension. But Timothy Chandler (knee) and Lucas Torro (pelvis) will both miss this weekend’s game for Adi Hütter’s side. David Abraham picked up a minor calf injury last weekend and is a doubt for the game.
Last Match
Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
The last time these two sides met was on Matchday 3 of the season and Borussia Dortmund overcame Frankfurt’s challenge with a 3-1 win. Abdou Diallo opened the scoring from a corner in the 36th minute after he was given three bites to the cherry by the Frankfurt defense.
Sebastien Haller pounced on Marcel Schmelzer’s missed clearance to make it 1-1 after 68 minutes. Marius Wolf then scored his first (and to this date only) Dortmund goal just four minutes later after getting on the end of Jadon Sancho’s cross. Paco Alcacer then marked his debut with a goal as his curling shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the back of the net.
Expected Lineups
Borussia Dortmund: Bürki – Hakimi, Weigl, Diallo, Schmelzer – Witsel, Delaney – Sancho, Reus, Guerreiro – Götze
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham, Hasebe, N’Dicka – Da Costa, Fernandes, Rode, Kostic – Rebic, Haller, Jovic