Eintracht Frankfurt face Borussia Dortmund in an enthralling DFB-Pokal second round tie on Tuesday night.

The Deutsche Bank Park will set the stage for an intriguing DFB-Pokal second-round encounter on Tuesday night as Eintracht Frankfurt host Borussia Dortmund. Both clubs have ambitions of going deep in the competition, and with their recent upturns in form, this clash promises to be among the standout ties of the round.

Eintracht Frankfurt finally found some respite from their inconsistent start to the season with a much-needed 2-0 win over St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The result not only ended a five-match winless run but also marked the team’s first clean sheet in 11 outings, a crucial psychological boost for a side that had been leaking goals at an alarming rate.

Before that victory, Dino Toppmoller’s men had conceded 22 goals across their previous six fixtures, highlighting a defensive fragility that had undermined much of their attacking promise. Still, Frankfurt have been productive going forward, scoring at least twice in five of their last eight matches in all competitions, a sign that their offensive rhythm remains intact.

Currently sixth in the Bundesliga with 13 points, the Eagles sit only four behind fourth-placed Dortmund but already trail Bayern Munich by 11. Their Pokal pedigree is respectable: they reached the round of 16 in both 2023/24 and 2024/25, and were finalists in 2022/23, narrowly missing out on silverware after a 2-0 loss to RB Leipzig.

The win over St. Pauli was also Eintracht Frankfurt’s first home victory in four attempts, snapping a streak of three straight losses at Deutsche Bank Park. Restoring their home dominance will be key if they hope to progress against one of Germany’s elite.

For Borussia Dortmund, this DFB-Pokal campaign offers a valuable opportunity to secure silverware amid a mixed domestic season. Following a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich earlier in October, Dortmund’s title hopes already appear to be fading, with Niko Kovac’s men struggling to keep pace at the top of the Bundesliga table.

However, recent performances suggest signs of recovery. BVB have won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, including a narrow 1-0 league victory over FC Koln at the weekend and an entertaining 4-2 win over FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Their defensive record has also been solid, conceding just six goals in the league, 12 fewer than Frankfurt, even if their attack has produced fewer goals (14 to Frankfurt’s 21).

Dortmund’s relationship with the DFB-Pokal has been bittersweet in recent seasons. After failing to advance past this stage last year, they will be eager to avoid another early exit. The club last lifted the trophy in 2020/21, their fifth in history, and Kovac will see this competition as a realistic target for silverware.

Historically, BVB have enjoyed the upper hand against Frankfurt, winning six of the last seven meetings and remaining unbeaten in that stretch, except for a 2-0 defeat at the Deutsche Bank Park in January. Their away record this season has also been encouraging, four wins in seven trips, with the only loss coming against Bayern.

Eintracht Frankfurt are likely to stick with their high-energy 3-4-2-1 formation, which allows for fluid transitions and numerical strength in midfield. Expect Toppmoller’s side to press aggressively early, aiming to disrupt Dortmund’s build-up while exploiting space behind their wing-backs.

Dortmund, meanwhile, will look to impose control through structured possession and quick vertical transitions. Kovac’s 3-4-3 system provides both defensive solidity and attacking width. Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi will operate between the lines to support Serhou Guirassy up front, while Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha are expected to dictate tempo in central areas.

Given both sides’ contrasting strengths, Eintracht Frankfurt’s energy and Borussia Dortmund’s precision, this match-up could hinge on which midfield duo asserts dominance early. 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

Eintracht Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt head into the DFB-Pokal tie with no major fresh injury or suspension concerns, allowing Dino Toppmoller to field a strong side for this crucial knockout clash. However, there remains some uncertainty over the goalkeeping position.

Both Michael Zetterer and Kaua Santos have rotated between the posts in recent weeks, but with Zetterer managing to keep a clean sheet in the weekend’s 2-0 win over St. Pauli, he will hope to retain his place for the midweek fixture. Elsewhere, Frankfurt are expected to recall several first-team regulars who were rested in the league, with Jonathan Burkardt set to lead the line.

The centre-forward’s hold-up play and clinical finishing will be key as Frankfurt look to convert their attacking possession into goals. Midfielder Hugo Larsson, who impressed off the bench in their last match, is also likely to start given his passing range and ability to dictate tempo from deep.

With the team looking to use this competition as a launchpad to regain momentum, Toppmoller is expected to name a near full-strength lineup, emphasizing a balance between defensive compactness and forward dynamism.

Dino Toppmoller is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide structural balance while maintaining attacking versatility. Kaua Santos is likely to start in goal, protected by a back four of Rasmus Kristensen at right-back, Robin Koch and Arthur Theate as the central defensive pairing, and Nathaniel Brown on the left. This combination provides both physical presence and composure in possession, crucial for building from the back.

In midfield, Ellyes Skhiri and Hugo Larsson will operate as the double pivot. Skhiri’s defensive awareness and tackling ability will allow Larsson to push slightly higher up the pitch, linking play between defence and attack. Ahead of them, Ritsu Doan is expected to feature on the right wing, while Can Uzun will occupy the central attacking midfield role, providing creativity and support to the striker. On the left flank, Jean-Matteo Bahoya will add pace and directness, constantly looking to exploit space behind Dortmund’s wing-backs.

Leading the line, Jonathan Burkardt will serve as the focal point of Frankfurt’s attack, combining strength and movement to trouble the Borussia Dortmund defence. His ability to press from the front and bring teammates into play will be vital in Frankfurt’s efforts to disrupt their opponent’s rhythm.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Santos; Kristensen, Koch, Theate, Brown; Skhiri, Larsson; Doan, Uzun, Bahoya; Burkardt

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund will make the trip to Frankfurt with a nearly full squad available for selection, providing head coach Niko Kovac with flexibility in rotating his lineup for this DFB-Pokal encounter. The only confirmed absentees remain long-term injuries in the defensive department, though none are new concerns. Kovac will be encouraged by the fitness of his core players, allowing him to name a strong starting eleven as Dortmund chase a place in the round of 16.

Centre-back Niklas Sule, who was an unused substitute during the weekend’s 1-0 win over FC Koln, is expected to return to the starting lineup. His inclusion will likely see Dortmund revert to a three-man defence, a system that has served them well in balancing solidity with attacking width. In midfield, Marcel Sabitzer could be recalled in place of Pascal Gross, offering more forward drive and energy in transitions.

He is expected to partner Felix Nmecha, whose box-to-box mobility adds dynamism to the central areas. Further up the pitch, Julian Brandt is likely to be handed a more advanced creative role behind the striker, while Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund’s in-form forward, will spearhead the attack. Karim Adeyemi, who continues to impress with his pace and direct running, is expected to retain his place as a key wide outlet.

Niko Kovac is expected to deploy his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, designed to provide structural balance between defence and attack. Gregor Kobel will start in goal, supported by a defensive trio consisting of Waldemar Anton on the right, Niklas Süle in the central position, and Ramy Bensebaini on the left. This configuration gives Dortmund both physical strength and the ability to play out from the back, with Sule’s composure and passing range providing an outlet under pressure.

In the wing-back roles, Julian Ryerson will operate on the right, offering relentless energy and overlapping runs, while Daniel Svensson will be deployed on the left to balance attacking width with defensive discipline. The midfield double pivot of Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha will look to control the tempo, Sabitzer contributing with his progressive passing and set-piece delivery, while Nmecha focuses on ball recoveries and box-to-box support.

In the attacking third, Karim Adeyemi will occupy the right side of the advanced midfield pairing, using his speed to stretch Frankfurt’s defensive line, while Julian Brandt will act as the creative hub, drifting into pockets of space to feed through balls into the striker. Leading the line, Serhou Guirassy will serve as Dortmund’s primary goal threat, combining physical strength, intelligent movement, and lethal finishing to challenge Frankfurt’s backline.

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

Key Stats

• Borussia Dortmund have won six of their last seven meetings against Eintracht Frankfurt across all competitions, losing just once during that span, a 2-0 defeat at Deutsche Bank Park in January 2025.

• Eintracht Frankfurt have conceded 22 goals in their last seven matches across all competitions prior to their win over St. Pauli, the highest total among Bundesliga sides currently in the top half of the table.

• Borussia Dortmund have reached at least the quarter-finals in six of their last eight DFB-Pokal campaigns, and they last lifted the trophy in 2020/21 under Edin Terzic.

• Despite their recent victory over St. Pauli, Frankfurt have won only one of their last four home matches at Deutsche Bank Park, conceding nine goals across those fixtures.

• Borussia Dortmund have lost just one of their seven away matches in all competitions this season, that defeat coming against Bayern Munich, while winning four and scoring at least twice in five of those outings.

Player to Watch

Serhou Guirassy

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Few forwards in German football have been as consistently decisive this season as Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean striker has quickly established himself as the focal point of Borussia Dortmund’s attack under Niko Kovac, blending physicality, sharp movement, and a ruthless eye for goal. His finishing inside the penalty area has been exemplary, and his instinctive understanding of space continues to make him a nightmare for defenders.

Guirassy’s intelligence in positioning allows him to exploit the smallest defensive lapses, often drifting into half-spaces to receive the ball before striking with precision. His ability to hold up play and link with midfield creators such as Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi gives Dortmund a multi-dimensional edge in attack. Beyond scoring, his work rate and pressing from the front embody Kovac’s high-intensity philosophy.

Against an Eintracht Frankfurt side that has struggled defensively in recent weeks, Guirassy’s presence could be pivotal. If Dortmund can supply him with consistent service from wide areas and set pieces, the striker has every chance of continuing his prolific form and firing the Black and Yellow into the next round of the DFB-Pokal.

Prediction

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Both sides enter this DFB-Pokal clash with renewed confidence after much-needed weekend victories, but Borussia Dortmund appear to have the stronger balance between defence and attack. Eintracht Frankfurt’s home advantage and recent win over St. Pauli will provide belief, yet their defensive fragility, having conceded heavily in prior weeks, remains a major concern against a Dortmund side that thrives on quick transitions and movement in the final third.

Niko Kovac’s men have been disciplined on the road, losing only once away from home all season, and they possess the attacking depth to trouble Frankfurt’s backline throughout the ninety minutes. The creative influence of Julian Brandt, coupled with Serhou Guirassy’s clinical finishing, gives Dortmund the edge in what promises to be an open but tactically measured contest.

While Dino Toppmöller’s Frankfurt will battle hard and look to press aggressively, Dortmund’s superior structure and efficiency in the final third should see them progress to the next round. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Niko Kovac and his charges.