Borussia Dortmund had the chance to move closer to league leaders Bayern Munich last weekend but lost to Bayer Leverkusen in shocking fashion.
Now, Lucien Favre’s team must dust themselves off and defeat a much-improved Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday night at the Signal Iduna Park to have a shot at reeling in Bayern Munich.
Eintracht Frankfurt are ninth in the Bundesliga, but since returning from the winter break, they are unbeaten in four straight league matches. Three of those four games ended in wins for the Eagles.
Favre has injury issues concerning him at Borussia Dortmund. Captain Marco Reus is once again ruled out through injury. Making matters worse is creative midfielder Julian Brandt is also out with an injury.
The coach will choose between Thorgan Hazard and American teenage sensation Gio Reyna for a place in the attack. Reyna has received a lot of attention akin to Christian Pulisic when he broke into the Borussia Dortmund first team. The attention is well deserved for the teenager.
Adi Hutter’s Eintracht Frankfurt have found form after a much-need rest in December and January. Since returning to league play, full-back Timmy Chandler has become one of the team’s top scorers notching four goals in the last four Bundesliga matches.
Winger Filip Kostic is also in-form heading into the weekend. Hutter will have striker Bas Dost available after he suffered an illness. It is likely the coach will start Andre Silva in attack, however.
Eintracht Frankfurt have not defeated Borussia Dortmund since November 2016. The yellow and black are on a seven-match unbeaten run versus the Eagles.
The last two fixtures between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt ended in score draws. The two sides have both found the back of the net in their last eight meetings in all competitions. Seven of those eight fixtures saw over 2.5 goals scored.
Borussia Dortmund may be missing Reus and Brandt, but January transfer signing Erling Haaland has been brilliant since joining the team. The Norwegian hitman has scored seven goal in four matches since arriving at Signal Iduna Park. He could light up Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday night.
Although it will be Valentine’s Day, there will be no love in the air when Eintracht Frankfurt arrive in Dortmund. The two sides should again combine for over 2.5 goals with both finding the back of the net.
Borussia Dortmund should get their title chase back on track with a win at home to keep their unbeaten run versus the Eagles going.