Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig

One of the most heavily anticipated fixtures in the Bundesliga calendar pits Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig against each other at Signal Iduna Park.

Borussia Dortmund delivered an abysmal performance in midweek DFB-Pokal action, deservedly losing 2-0 at Stuttgart only days after undeservedly holding Bundesliga pacesetters Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-1 draw. Despite only losing twice in the German top flight this season (W7, D4), ‘Die Borussen’ already lag ten points behind the table’s summit, highlighting the significance of winning this fixture. However, visiting Leipzig have been a thorn in Dortmund’s side lately, beating them four times in their last five top-flight H2Hs (L1). If it’s any consolation, their only win in that run came in this corresponding fixture in 2022/23 (2-1), while they can draw further confidence from their solid home record this season, having won five of their seven Bundesliga outings at Signal Iduna Park (D1, L1).

As for Leipzig, an extra rest period after relinquishing their DFB-Pokal title defense already in the previous round could prove helpful here as they bid to make it two Bundesliga wins in a row for the first time since October. Marco Rose’s side squeezed past newcomers Heidenheim 2-1 at home last weekend, halting a two-game losing streak in all competitions and leapfrogging Dortmund into fourth in the Bundesliga table. But there’s no room for complacency within the traveling camp as they’ve gone from three consecutive away league wins to back-to-back defeats. That puts Rose in an awkward position, throwing him at risk of losing three successive top-flight games on the road in charge of ‘Die Roten Bullen.’ With Leipzig losing three of their last five top-flight visits to Dortmund (W1, D1), there’s a genuine concern in his corner.