Dortmund Faces Crunch Time Against High-Flying Leipzig Amid Tough Season Start
Borussia Dortmund faces a crucial moment this Saturday as they prepare to host in-form RB Leipzig, while grappling with their worst league start in a decade. Dortmund’s recent performances have been disappointing, including a shocking exit from the German Cup after a second-round defeat to Wolfsburg. This early exit is their earliest in the cup in 15 years and compounds a recent string of losses that includes a 5-2 collapse against Real Madrid, where Dortmund squandered a 2-0 halftime lead.
The arrival of new coach Nuri Sahin in the summer has not brought the anticipated turnaround, with many questioning whether he can lead Dortmund back to success. Sahin, however, remains determined to reverse their fortunes, acknowledging the “difficult situation” but expressing confidence in the team’s ability to improve. Despite being plagued by injuries to ten first-team players, including goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Sahin refuses to make excuses. He remains focused on fielding a competitive lineup, though the depth of his squad will be tested against a formidable Leipzig team.
In stark contrast, RB Leipzig is on a high, currently sharing the Bundesliga lead with Bayern Munich, having won 20 points from eight games. Leipzig’s unbeaten run has extended to 19 league games since February, with the team keeping six clean sheets and conceding just three goals this season. Head coach Marco Rose, who previously managed Dortmund, sees Saturday’s match as an “exciting” opportunity to continue their strong form and maintain momentum in their bid for a first-ever league title. Leipzig defender David Raum also expressed optimism about Leipzig’s title chances, saying the team’s consistency could make them legitimate challengers, similar to Bayer Leverkusen’s title run last season.
Dortmund can take some comfort from their impressive home record this season. The Westfalenstadion has been a fortress for the team, where they’ve won all four of their league games, and their standout performance this season — a 7-1 Champions League victory over Celtic — was also achieved at home. This strong home form offers a glimmer of hope as Dortmund looks to overcome Leipzig and regain stability.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen will face Stuttgart on Friday in a rematch of the DFL Supercup, and Bayern Munich hosts Union Berlin. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush will also be a player to watch after scoring a late winner against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Cup. With nine league goals and four assists this season, Marmoush has been a key offensive threat for Frankfurt and will look to continue his form against struggling Bochum.
As Dortmund faces a pivotal clash, the game against Leipzig represents more than just three points. A strong performance could help the team find confidence amid a turbulent season, while another defeat could deepen their struggles.
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