The Matchday Preview

Another exciting Bundesliga weekend awaits. Two top-of-the-table clashes on Saturday, a battle at the bottom of the table in Sinsheim, and plenty of other exciting fixtures to get you off your feet!

Another exciting Bundesliga weekend awaits. Two top-of-the-table clashes on Saturday, a battle at the bottom of the table in Sinsheim, and plenty of other exciting fixtures to get you off your feet!

Season Prediction Accuracy: 29/54 (53.70%)

Borussia Dortmund v FC St. Pauli

Borussia Dortmund kicks off the Bundesliga matchday with a Friday night fixture at the Signal-Iduna Park. It is a setting and circumstances where they have historically excelled. Die Schwarz-Gelben boast an impressive 38-game unbeaten streak in Friday night home matches in the Bundesliga. Their last home defeat on a Friday night dates back over two decades, when they lost 1-0 to rivals Schalke 04 in January 2004.

While the odds favor Dortmund extending this remarkable run, their inconsistent recent form raises concerns. Despite changes in management, personell, and playing style over the summer, Dortmund's contrasting performances in Europe and the Bundesliga persist. In Europe, Dortmund have achieved spectacular results—a 3-0 victory in Brugge and a 7-1 triumph over Celtic FC have propelled them to the top of the 36-team Champions League table after just two matchdays. These magical midweek performances helped Dortmund reach last season's UCL final, yet their domestic league form has consistently fallen short, leading them to miss out on a top-four finish last season for the first time since 2015. This season, signs again point toward potential European excellence being overshadowed by domestic disappointment.

Dortmund has won just three of their six league matches to date, with the latest setback occurring last week in Berlin. Only four days after a memorable Tuesday night against Celtic, they stumbled against Union Berlin, who took a 2-0 halftime lead and managed the game in the second half to secure a well-deserved 2-1 victory. Key players struggled, including Nico Schlotterbeck, who conceded a careless penalty, and the midfield pairing of Emre Can and Pascal Groß - who looked far from the commanding duo that excelled midweek. But, perhaps the most glaring performance came from Maximilian Beier.

Beier, a marquee signing by coach Sahin over the summer, joined Dortmund for nearly €30 million following a 16-goal season with TSG Hoffenheim. Nobody reasonably expected Beier to immediately set the league alight, but his costly price tag and reputation as a German international have made his lack of output—no goals or assists in seven appearances—a point of frustration. With Karim Adeyemi sidelined by injury Beier is expected to continue to see more playing time, and the upcoming match against St. Pauli could provide the opportunity for him to finally open his account.

St. Pauli, meanwhile, are grappling with their own challenges. After an optimistic draw against Leipzig on matchday four (0-0) and an away win against Freiburg (3-0) on matchday five, their survival hopes took a hit again last week with a 3-0 home loss to Mainz 05. Despite holding more possession, Die Kiezkicker lacked penetration and saw a shaky performance from goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj culminate in a comfortable victory for the away side.

Injury setbacks compound St. Pauli’s concerns. Australian international Connor Metcalfe and Swedish international Eric Smith, both sidelined by abductor injuries, missed their national team duties, while star forward Elias Saad sustained a serious ankle injury late in the match against Mainz. With two goals and two assists, Saad had been directly involved in four of St. Pauli’s five league goals this season, and his absence only intensifies the struggles of an already weakened attack.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund Win

Bayer Leverkusen v Eintracht Frankfurt

It’s a rare occasion to witness such a marquee fixture in the 15:30 Saturday slot, but Bayer Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the German top flight.

As reigning champions, Bayer Leverkusen are eager to bounce back after heading into the international break (for the second time this season!) with a frustrating result weighing heavy on their minds. Bayer Leverkusen were heavy favorites against newcomers Holstein Kiel last matchday, and Leverkusen showcased all of their power early by racing to a 2-0 lead within the first eight minutes. Victor Boniface continued his impressive form, netting his fifth goal in six matches, while the often-criticized Jonas Hofmann finally found the back of the net with his first Bundesliga goal since October 29, 2023.