Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha Berlin
Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Saturday, 06-06-2020 @7:30pm
Dortmund have largely been solid since the return of Bundesliga last month, although the defeat to Bayern Munich has practically ended their title hopes.
Now 7 points behind the leaders, all Lucien Favre’s can hope for is a huge slip-up from the champions while winning every game they play, which they ensured last week with a 6-1 mauling of SC Paderborn.
Berlin, meanwhile, have been stunning under Bruno Labbadia. Upon the resumption of the season. Die Alte Dame have not lost any of their four ties, winning three of them quite convincingly (D1).
In fact, in this period, only Bayern Munich have more points than Hertha, with the capital side up to ninth on the Bundesliga table and in with a chance to qualify for the Europa League.
The reverse fixture, played at the Olympiastadion in November last year, ended in a 2-1 win for Dortmund, with Jadon Sancho and Thorgan Hazard on target for the visitors, while Vladimir Darida netted the consolation goal for Hertha. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Dortmund are again expected to be without the services of teenage forward Erling Braut Haaland due to the knee injury that he picked up in the defeat to Bayern last month. As a result, Thorgan Hazard could again be selected as the central figure in a three-man attack which should also include Sancho and Julian Brandt. Mats Hummels is suspended, meanwhile, meaning that Emre Can could drop into central defence, allowing Axel Witsel to start alongside Thomas Delaney in the middle of the park. Mahmoud Dahoud, Marco Reus, Nico Schulz and Dan-Axel Zagadou are also all out for the home side, who will be at far from full-strength in Saturday’s late start.
As for Hertha, Santiago Ascacibar and Marius Wolf are both on the treatment table, while Matheus Cunha and Marvin Plattenhardt remain doubts due to concussion. The capital side did not pick up any fresh concerns against Augsburg, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI sent onto the field. Labbadia does have plenty of options for change in the forward areas, however, with Mathew Leckie and January signing Krzysztof Piatek both pushing for spots in the starting XI.
Dortmund have won 29 of their 65 previous Bundesliga meetings with Hertha Berlin, who have won none of the last five (D2 L3). Hertha Berlin boss, Bruno Labbadia has never won in Dortmund in seven previous attempts (3 defeats). Jadon Sancho has scored three times and registered three assists in just four league games against Hertha Berlin. Lukebakio is Hertha Berlin’s leading marksman with six goals, but has struck just once in his last eight Bundesliga league appearances. Erling Haaland scored nine times in his opening six Bundesliga matches, but has found the back of the net just once in his last five outings.
The other Bundesliga games this weekend
Saturday, 06-06-2020
-Leipzig vs Paderbon @4:30pm
-Frankfurt vs Mainz @4:30pm
-Leverkusen vs Bayern @4:30pm
-Dusseldorf vs Hoffenheim @4:30pm
Sunday, 07-06-2020
-Bremen vs Wolfsburg @2:30pm
-Union Berlin vs Schalke @4:30pm
-Augsburg vs Koln @7pm
Result Friday, 05-06-2020
-Freiburg 1-0 Monchengladbach