Borussia Dortmund are looking to bounce back as they host Heidenheim in the Bundesliga. Heidenheim were promoted to Germany’s top division for the first time in their history. The visitors have dropped both of their league openers.
Preview (Borussia Dortmund vs. Heidenheim)
Dortmund, of course, is an experienced veteran at the top of the Bundesliga. They have placed in the top four spots each of the previous eight years. When BVB entered the final day of the season in first place and needed all three points at home against Mainz 05 to defeat their fierce rivals, Bayern Munich, they came agonizingly close to ending Bayern’s dominance of the division.
On Saturday, Dortmund lost to VfL Bochum in disappointing fashion after defeating Koln themselves in the season’s opening weekend. Donyell Malen offset Kevin Stoger’s opening goal. Despite putting in a lot of effort, neither team was able to come away with the match-winning goal. Edin Terzic returned to the club this summer for his second stint as manager. Since returning, Dortmund’s home form has been quite strong. On Friday night, they will be looking to score at least a couple of goals in a comfortable victory.
When playing Hoffenheim on Saturday, Heidenheim was incredibly unlucky not to record their first-ever positive Bundesliga result, with the visitors snatching the victory thanks to a penalty kick from Andrej Kramaric in the waning seconds of regulation. Maximilian Beier and Pavel Kaderabek both scored goals three minutes apart to tie the game. Kramaric, who converted a penalty after a protracted VAR review, broke the hearts of the home team. Frank Schmidt, the team’s head coach, won’t be in a panic just yet. His team had more control versus Wolfsburg in their first game before taking 20 shots in their defeat. When they arrive in Dortmund on Friday, they will undoubtedly face a challenge to avoid going into the international break without a point.
Team News
With probable hip and back injuries, respectively, Felix Nmecha and Mats Hummels were both replaced during Dortmund’s draw away to Bochum; neither player is likely to be risked for this game. Along with them on the sidelines are Julian Ryerson, Thomas Meunier, Julien Duranville, and Giovanni Reyna, but if Karim Adeyemi and Niklas Sule are needed to fill in, they can do it with quality. Due to hip and knee ailments, respectively, Marnon Busch and Elidon Qenaj will not be traveling with Heidenheim, but otherwise, Schmidt seems to have a complete roster to choose from.
The 49-year-old may replace one of his two strikers with central midfielder Kevin Sessa. Pieringer possibly left the team despite scoring his first league goal for the team against Hoffenheim. After losing their most recent game and falling two points short of Bayern in their pursuit of their first championship since 2012, Heidenheim may be playing Dortmund at a poor moment. Despite playing at this level for the first time in the club’s history, the visitors have not appeared wholly out of their depth. However, that could alter somewhat on Friday, with BVB set to come out on top with ease.
Borussia Dortmund 3 – 0 Heidenheim
For more football previews, click here
