Dortmund vs. FC Köln preview: BVB need a win to keep pace
Struggling Köln travel north to face the black and yellow, who will likely have to win on Saturday in order to keep up with their rivals in Munich.
Dortmund
BVB frustratingly drew away to Schalke last weekend and were also knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea last week. It’s safe to say it hasn’t gone to plan over the last couple of games for Edin Terzic’ men who were off to such a blazing start in 2023.
But, all is not lost as Dortmund still control their own destiny in league play. Raphael Guerreiro will likely continue in an advanced midfield role this weekend, while Salih Özcan could start for the suspended Emre Can.
Niklas Süle should also feature in the starting 11 ahead of veteran Mats Hummels.
Terzic commented, "We deserved to lose the game in London. The derby was different. A really good performance in the first half, but we weren't completely satisfied with the second half. From this, we take away that we want to do better and better from now on."
Team News
Can is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card last week. Marco Reus will be in the squad, while Gregor Kobel, Thomas Meunier and Julian Brandt are questionable. Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko and Mateu Morey are all unavailable.
FC Köln
Earlier this season it seemed fairly certain that Köln would fight for a return back to Europe. But, the Billy Goats have fallen off steeply and sit 12th in the table without a goal scored in their last four games.
Their attackers are cold and the winter arrival of Davie Selke hasn’t helped in the slightest. Steffen Tigges should feature on Saturday against his former club, but Köln have only won once in their last 22 appearances at the Signal Iduna Park.
Baumgart said, “Jude Bellingham, Marco Reus, Nico Schlotterbeck. How Raphael Guerreiro strikes the ball. The pace of Donyell Malen. Dortmund are on the right path, they're the team closest to Bayern and I expect them to play like that this weekend.”
Team News
Sebastian Andersson, Kristian Pedersen, Luca Kilian, Jan Thielmann, Florian Dietz and Mark Uth remain out. Backup keeper Timo Horn is questionable.