Borussia Dortmund is gearing up to bounce back from their recent draw against Bochum as they face Bundesliga newcomers Heidenheim in a Friday evening clash (kick-off: 8.30pm CEST).
After the heartbreak of narrowly missing out on the title to Bayern Munich on the final day of the previous season, Dortmund began this campaign with high hopes of claiming the championship. They kicked off the season with a 1-0 victory over Cologne on Matchday 1, although coach Edin Terzic wasn’t entirely satisfied with the performance, which required a last-minute effort from Donyell Malen to secure the win. While their performance improved the following weekend, Dortmund was held to a 1-1 draw by Bochum, with Malen once again rescuing them in the second half after conceding an early goal.
Malen, the in-form Dutchman, is expected to lead the line again as Borussia lines up in front of their passionate fans at Signal Iduna Park. Meanwhile, Karim Adeyemi might feature on the opposite flank, and the former captain Marco Reus could potentially make an impact from the bench. The midfield setup could include two of Julian Brandt, Felix Nmecha, and Marcel Sabitzer alongside new skipper Emre Can. In defense, Niklas Süle might replace Mats Hummels, especially after the latter played only 45 minutes against Bochum. Additionally, Julian Ryerson’s return is likely to see him reclaim his spot at full-back.
Watch: https://www.sportsmonks.com/football-news/simons-openda-leipzigs-dynamic-duo/
On the other side, Heidenheim experienced a drastic change of fate last season, going from narrowly missing out on promotion to clinching the Bundesliga 2 title with two late goals. Now, two games into their debut Bundesliga season, they are still waiting to secure their first point. However, coach Frank Schmidt views these early defeats as valuable learning experiences for his team’s top-flight journey. Heidenheim conceded early goals in both of their previous matches, leading to a 2-0 loss against Wolfsburg and a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to Hoffenheim, despite initially leading 2-0.
Key players for Heidenheim include Jan-Niklas Beste, who scored their first-ever Bundesliga goal, and defensive anchor Lennard Maloney. Both players were once part of Dortmund’s youth setup and will play a crucial role as Heidenheim visits Signal Iduna Park, the largest stadium in German football, in pursuit of a historic result.
Match Stats:
Donyell Malen has netted both of Dortmund’s goals this season. He holds the record for the most Bundesliga goals (11) in 2023 and has scored in seven of the last eight home games.
Dortmund has lost only one out of 21 league games in 2023, a 4-2 defeat against Bayern in April. They have won 12 of their last 13 Bundesliga matches at home, with the exception being a costly 2-2 draw against Mainz on the final day of the previous season.
Dortmund’s record against promoted clubs at home since 2020/21 is not ideal, as they have lost three matches, more than any other team in the same period. Prior to that, they had lost just two out of 19 such fixtures.
Jan-Niklas Beste, Heidenheim’s playmaker, scored their inaugural Bundesliga goal in the last match. He started his football journey at Dortmund’s youth academy from 2007 to 2018 and made his senior debut in BVB colors in 2017.
While Heidenheim hasn’t faced Dortmund’s first team before, they have encountered the second-string side six times in the 3. Liga, recording three wins, two draws, and one loss.
Heidenheim is the latest Bundesliga debutant to lose their first two games since Energie Cottbus in 2000/01. Interestingly, the two most recent top-flight debutants, Union Berlin (2019/20) and RB Leipzig (2016/17), both secured their first Bundesliga victory against Dortmund.
“Dortmund vs. Heidenheim: Preview & Live Coverage”
For more related updates , visit our official website !
By- Sahiba Suri