Nothing less than a win will do for Borussia Dortmund as they welcome FC Koln to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.

Borussia Dortmund will look to rebound from a damaging defeat when they host FC Koln at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, knowing that any further slip-ups could deal a major blow to their Bundesliga title ambitions.

The Black and Yellows’ 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich last weekend left them seven points adrift of the defending champions after just seven matches. Borussia Dortmund currently sit fourth with 14 points, while newly-promoted Koln, who drew 1-1 with Augsburg in their last outing, continue to impress early in their top-flight return, occupying sixth place on 11 points.

The defeat in Der Klassiker exposed Dortmund’s recurring weakness, defensive inconsistency. Having conceded five goals in their last three league games and failing to keep a clean sheet in four consecutive outings, Kovac will be aware that a tighter backline is essential if his side are to sustain any realistic title challenge.

That said, Borussia Dortmund’s attacking play remains among the most potent in the Bundesliga. A 4-2 victory over FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday once again showcased their attacking flair and depth, marking the fifth time this season they have scored at least three goals in a match.

Despite their mixed results, Dortmund remain formidable at home. Niko Kovac’s men are unbeaten in their last nine matches at Signal Iduna Park, winning eight and scoring three or more goals in seven of those fixtures. Such dominance shows why Westfalenstadion continues to be one of the most difficult venues for visiting teams in Europe.

Kovac’s immediate challenge will be balancing his team’s attacking intent with defensive structure. If the backline can hold firm, Dortmund’s offensive firepower, led by the likes of Julian Brandt and Niclas Fullkrug, should give them a strong platform to bounce back.

Lukas Kwasniok’s Koln have made a respectable return to the Bundesliga, but arrive in Dortmund facing questions about their recent form. The Billy Goats have won only one of their last five league fixtures, losing twice and conceding nine goals in that stretch. Their attacking productivity has also waned; they have scored just once in each of their last four matches.

The 1-1 draw against FC Augsburg offered little encouragement from an attacking perspective. Köln managed an xG of just 0.58 and failed to create a single clear-cut chance, suggesting that their forward line still lacks efficiency in front of goal.

Nevertheless, Kwasniok’s men have been relatively strong away from home this season. They have lost only once in five away fixtures, winning three, though their defensive discipline has been inconsistent, with two clean sheets missed in their last three away games.

History, however, does not favour Koln ahead of the clash with Borussia Dortmund. They have lost their last three encounters against the Black and Yellows and have only two wins from their previous sixteen meetings with the Black and Yellow. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund will head into Saturday’s clash with relatively few injury concerns, but the absence of captain Emre Can remains a notable one. The German international, who has been a valuable utility option both in midfield and defence, will miss the game due to a minor muscular issue. Apart from him, Niko Kovac has a largely fit squad to choose from, with key defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton both available and expected to feature in the starting lineup.

Midfielder Felix Nmecha will be looking to build on his excellent midweek performance, having scored twice in the 4-2 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League. While Jobe Bellingham started alongside him in that fixture, Kovac is likely to restore Marcel Sabitzer to the lineup, given his experience and consistency, the Austrian midfielder has started nine games this season compared to Bellingham’s four.

Up front, Serhou Guirassy is expected to lead the line once again after overcoming a minor knock that had limited his training earlier in the week. His sharp finishing and ability to occupy defenders make him indispensable to Borussia Dortmund’s attack. He will receive support from Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi, both of whom offer creativity and pace in advanced positions.

Niko Kovac is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation, aiming for control in midfield while maintaining defensive stability through a compact back three. Gregor Kobel will start in goal, behind a defensive trio of Waldemar Anton on the right, Nico Schlotterbeck in the central role, and Ramy Bensebaini on the left. This setup allows Borussia Dortmund to build play patiently from the back while providing cover for their wing-backs to advance.

The wing-back positions will be occupied by Julian Ryerson on the right and Daniel Svensson on the left, both of whom will have crucial roles in stretching Koln’s defensive block and supporting both ends of the pitch. In central midfield, Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha will form the engine room, balancing defensive duties with progressive passing and forward surges into the final third.

In the attacking midfield roles, Julian Brandt will operate as the creative fulcrum, constantly drifting into pockets of space to orchestrate play, while Karim Adeyemi will look to exploit gaps behind the opposition’s defence with his pace and direct running. Leading the line, Serhou Guirassy will act as the focal point, holding up the ball, linking play, and finishing chances inside the penalty area.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Adeyemi, Brandt; Guirassy

1.FC Koln

Koln will travel to Borussia Dortmund with defensive concerns as both Luca Kilian and Rav van den Berg are ruled out through injury. Their absence leaves a gap in the heart of defence, forcing head coach Lukas Kwasniok to make adjustments to his preferred backline. Fortunately, there are no new suspension issues in the squad, but Kwasniok’s defensive options remain limited ahead of the visit to Signal Iduna Park.

In the absence of Kilian and van den Berg, Kwasniok is expected to rely on Joel Schmied, Timo Hubers, and Dominique Heintz to form a reshuffled back three. Each brings a different strength: Schmied’s aerial presence, Hubers’s anticipation, and Heintz’s composure, and together they will need to maintain tight coordination against Dortmund’s fluid attacking front line.

Koln are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, mirroring Dortmund’s shape in an effort to stay compact while retaining width for counter-attacks. Marvin Schwäbe will start in goal, marshalling the defensive trio of Joel Schmied, Timo Hubers, and Dominique Heintz, who will operate as the central figures in front of him.

On the flanks, Sebastian Sebulonsen will provide width and defensive support from the right wing-back position, while Kristoffer Lund will patrol the left, balancing defensive responsibility with forward thrusts down the channel. In central midfield, Isak Johannesson and Eric Martel will form a disciplined double pivot tasked with screening the defence, recycling possession, and initiating quick transitions when opportunities arise.

Ahead of them, Jan Thielmann and Jakub Kaminski will occupy the attacking midfield roles, providing creative link-up play and movement between the lines to supply the lone striker. Up front, Marius Bulter is set to lead the attack, using his pace and physicality to press Dortmund’s backline and exploit spaces left behind when the hosts push forward.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Schwabe; Schmied, Hubers, Heintz; Sebulonsen, Johannesson, Martel, Lund; Thielmann, Kaminski; Bulter

Key Stats

• Borussia Dortmund have won 12 of their last 15 meetings against FC Koln across all competitions, losing only twice during that period. The Billy Goats have not beaten BVB since a 2-1 victory in March 2022.

• Borussia Dortmund are unbeaten in their last nine home games at Signal Iduna Park, winning eight of those and scoring at least three goals in seven. Their average home scoring rate this season stands at 2.8 goals per match.

• Despite their defensive frailties, FC Koln have been strong travellers this season, winning three of their five away fixtures and losing just once. However, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three Bundesliga away games.

• Borussia Dortmund have scored three or more goals in five of their last seven matches across all competitions, while FC Koln have scored only once in each of their past four league outings, highlighting a sharp contrast in attacking potency.

• FC Koln have conceded five goals from set-pieces already this season, the joint-highest in the Bundesliga, whereas Borussia Dortmund have scored six goals from dead-ball situations, making this a potential area of exploitation for the hosts.

Player to Watch

Serhou Guirassy

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Few strikers in the Bundesliga have matched Serhou Guirassy’s impact this season. The Guinean forward has emerged as Borussia Dortmund’s most reliable source of goals, combining physical presence with lethal finishing inside the box. His intelligent positioning and ability to exploit defensive gaps have made him indispensable to Niko Kovac’s setup.

Guirassy is not merely a traditional target man, his movement off the ball allows Borussia Dortmund to stretch opposing defences and create overloads in central areas. He often drifts wide to draw out defenders or drops deep to link up with Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi, giving Dortmund’s attack a fluid, unpredictable edge.

Moreover, his composure in front of goal and instinct for timing his runs make him a constant threat, particularly against sides like FC Koln, who have struggled to contain quick transitions and set-piece situations. With Dortmund looking to bounce back from their defeat to Bayern Munich, Guirassy’s sharpness and finishing ability could prove decisive once again.

Prediction

Borussia Dortmund 3-1 FC Koln

Borussia Dortmund’s home form and attacking rhythm make them overwhelming favourites heading into this contest. Even though Niko Kovac’s men have shown defensive fragility in recent weeks, their offensive efficiency, particularly at Signal Iduna Park, should be too much for a struggling FC Koln side to contain.

Koln’s injuries in central defence and their lack of cutting edge in front of goal place them at a clear disadvantage. Lukas Kwasniok’s team may look to frustrate Borussia Dortmund with a compact shape and counter-attacking approach, but their inability to sustain pressure or defend set pieces effectively could prove costly.

With Serhou Guirassy in red-hot form and creative support from Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi, Dortmund should control the tempo and find multiple avenues to goal. Koln may nick a consolation through a quick transition or set-piece moment, but a home victory remains the most probable outcome.