BVB Buzz
Fansided

Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund: Bundesliga Preview and Team News

By Brian Szlenk Straub

Leverkusen's Austrian defender Aleksandar Dragovic (L) and Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen, in Dortmund, western Germany, on May 22, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Ina Fassbender / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Leverkusen's Austrian defender Aleksandar Dragovic (L) and Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen, in Dortmund, western Germany, on May 22, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Ina Fassbender / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Mats Hummels. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Mats Hummels. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /

Team News

For Borussia Dortmund, their injury woes will likely continue to be a hindrance going to into this match. Gio Reyna picked up an injury while on international duty and is ruled out until October. Club captain Marco Reus suffered a knee injury while with the Germany squad, but he is expected to be fit to feature on Saturday. Belgian international Thomas Meunier is also suffering from muscular problems while Emre Can will also remain sidelined for some weeks yet.

On the bright side however, it looks as if Mats Hummels could be set to make a return to the Dortmund squad against Leverkusen. This will be a welcome boost for the defence as Axel Witsel has had to deputize in his stead. The injury to Thomas Meunier may also mean that new signing Marin Pongračić may get his first start at right back, despite there being fears over him dealing with back problems. Gio Reyna’s injury may also be an opportunity for Julian Brandt to make an impact either against his former club, or coming weeks for Dortmund.

Bayer Leverkusen will come into the game without a few key figures, namely Charles Aránguiz and Exequiel Palacios. The timing of the South American World Cup qualifiers mean that they won’t be ready in time to start for Leverkusen. The home side will also be without Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Edmond Tapsoba, Lucas Alario, Karim Bellarabi and Julian Baumgartlinger all through injury.

Expected Line-ups

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Pongračić, Hummels, Akanji, Guerreiro – Dahoud – Bellingham, Brandt – Reus – Malen, Haaland

Bayer Leverkusen: Hrádecký – Bakker, Tah, Kossounou, Frimpong – Andrich, Demirbay – Wirtz, Paulinho, Diaby – Schick

Home/Borussia Dortmund News