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Bundesliga Preview: Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen

By Oliver Campo

BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: Paco Alcacer of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring the goal to the 1:1 during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on August 31, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: Paco Alcacer of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring the goal to the 1:1 during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on August 31, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images) /
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The Bundesliga is back for matchday 4 as Borussia Dortmund face Bayer Leverkusen at home. The international break offered highlights for some players, but the real fight is on. Can Borussia Dortmund get back to winning ways?

Location: Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany

Date: September 14th, 2019

Time: 3:30 PM Local, 9:30 AM EST

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Borussia Dortmund

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Der BVB made costly mistakes on matchday 3 as they lost to newly promoted side Union Berlin 3-1. A score line not many anticipated, but fitting of how the match played. Currently sitting in 5th place in the league, a win is required to catch up to RB Leipzig who have a 100% record as of this writing. To add pressure, the first match of the UEFA Champions League group stage takes place a few days later as Borussia Dortmund host FC Barcelona. Lucien Favre needs his players is top form ahead of the big game.

Bayer Leverkusen

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Peter Bosz Peter Bosz will be hoping to get one over his old side, having suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat last time the two sides met. Leverkusen have made a good start to the season, but were held to a goalless draw by Hoffenheim last time around. Leverkusen haven’t beaten Dortmund since Match Day 6 of the 16/17 season, and this will boost moral for the home side.

Team News

Borussia Dortmund could welcome back Axel Witsel and Thorgan Hazard. Nico Schulz and Manuel Akanji are major doubts however. Several players returning from international duty are doing so on a high note, with Jadon Sancho and Julian Brandt playing phenomenally for their respective countries. There are no injuries to report for Bayer Leverkusen.

Opposition star man: Kai Havertz

MAINZ, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 08: Kai Havertz of Leverkusen celebrates after scoring the 1-2 lead during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Opel Arena on February 08, 2019 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Jörg Schüler/Getty Images)
MAINZ, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 08: Kai Havertz of Leverkusen celebrates after scoring the 1-2 lead during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Opel Arena on February 08, 2019 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Jörg Schüler/Getty Images) /

The 20-year-old German international is a highly sought after player by big clubs around Europe. Havertz scored 20 goals and assisted 7 times in 42 matches for Leverkusen last season, and already has two goals to his name so far this season. His performances helped Bayer Leverkusen seal a UEFA Champions League spot and raised the stock of Havertz massively. A great midfielder and showing intelligence well beyond his age, the attacking midfielder will be a thorn in the side of BVB.

DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 24: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal with team mates during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on February 24, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 24: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal with team mates during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on February 24, 2019 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Previous match: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Borussia Dortmund hosted Bayer Leverkusen in a thrilling match last season that saw Zagadou open the scoring after a corner from Sancho. Volland tied things up thanks to some wonderful passing from Havertz and a well placed ball past Burki. Not to be out done, Diallo crossed the ball to Sancho a minute later, leading to one of the best strikes by the England international in a Dortmund jersey.

In the second half, Gotze would capitalize on a loose ball just outside the box. Hradecky couldn’t do anything to stop that shot either, helping Dortmund take a two goal advantage. Brandt then found Jonathan Tah in the box, and the German international gave his side hopes of a stunning comeback. But it wasn’t to be and Borussia Dortmund ran out winners in the end.

Expected Lineup

Borussia Dortmund: Burki – Piszczek, Hummels, Zagadou, Hakimi – Witsel, Weigl – Sancho, Reus, Brandt – Alcacer

Next. Borussia Dortmund’s mixed start to the new season raises old questions. dark

Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky – L. Bender (c), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Aranguiz – Bellarabi, Havertz, Demirbay, Bailey – Volland

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