Will BVB take the momentum from the premier class with them?

What do Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt currently have in common? Both clubs are currently in the position they would like to be in after 34 match days, both teams have recently celebrated two Bundesliga wins in a row and the number of international players in Julian Nagelsmann’s DFB squad has also equalized. Robin Koch has made it into the SGE squad, while only Niclas Füllkrug remains from BVB after the national team coach’s consistent deletions

The European Championship hosts’ upcoming international matches against France and the Netherlands play only a subordinate role for both clubs in the context of the 26th matchday in the Bundesliga. Instead, the focus is on the head-to-head clash at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday evening at 17:30. The Black & Yellows are the favorites, especially as they have only lost one of the last 14 meetings in the German top flight against the Eagles. This is one of the reasons why betting tips for a home win for Terzic’s team between Dortmund and Frankfurt are offered at odds of under 1.65.

In addition, Borussia will naturally be looking to build on their Champions League progress on Wednesday evening and take another step towards qualifying for the top flight again. Neutral soccer fans, meanwhile, are hoping for a similarly spectacular result to the first leg, which ended 3:3 at Deutsche Bank Park. For the second leg between Dortmund and Frankfurt, the prediction of far fewer goals than in the first leg is more realistic. Incidentally, you can find a wide range of over/under bets at the betting provider Oddset:

Dortmund – Statistics & current form

For the first time since 2021, Borussia Dortmund have made it back into the last eight of the Champions League. After drawing 1:1 in the first leg at PSV Eindhoven, BVB deservedly won the second leg against the Dutch league leaders 2:0 and can therefore look forward to at least two more matches in the most important club competition at European level. Terzic’s charges are determined to take the momentum from Wednesday evening’s encounter into the league and improve their starting position in the race for a top-four place.

After Niclas Füllkrug and Co. won their last two away games at Union Berlin (2-0) and in Bremen (2-1), they will be looking to make amends at home on Sunday. BVB lost their last home game in the Bundesliga 3:2 against TSG Hoffenheim. However, it was also the only defeat in the last eleven Bundesliga games (6-4-1). Especially after the winter break, the reigning runners-up must be said to be in good form. In the second half of the season, for example, only Leverkusen and Stuttgart have collected more points than the CL quarter-finalists from the Ruhr region

The defense is the new BVB showpiece

Another point in Borussia’s favor on Sunday was their much-improved defensive display in 2024. The Black & Yellows went five of their nine league matches after the break without conceding a goal. In total, they conceded just seven goals in eleven competitive matches in the new year. Only Hoffenheim were able to overcome the BVB backline more than once. Even PSV Eindhoven only managed to score once from the penalty spot in 180 minutes. Contrary to the odds, we therefore prefer a prediction of a rather low-scoring match between Dortmund and Frankfurt. Four goals after 90 minutes should be the highest of feelings.

The impressive form of Donyell Malen and Niclas Füllkrug does not change this assessment. Both players have scored eleven goals this season. After the winter break alone, the two attacking stars have already scored six goals each. Malen has recently scored three times in a row and will once again play an important part in Terzic’s attacking play on Sunday in the absence of the injured Jadon Sancho. In general, the coach will have to reshuffle his team in a number of positions, as the suspended Marcel Sabitzer, who has not missed a Bundesliga minute in 2024 to date, will not be available.

Predicted Dortmund line-up:

Frankfurt – Statistics & current form

In our opinion, Eintracht Frankfurt are currently doing a little too badly due to the increased expectations resulting from the Europa League triumph in 2022 and the associated Champions League qualification in 2022/23. Sixth place in the interim rankings, seven points ahead of seventh place, is a satisfactory result, which – as things stand at the moment – would possibly even entitle the team to participate in the UEFA Europa League.

In the recent past, the Hessians have been criticized in particular for their lack of ideas and, for long stretches, even powerless possession soccer, but they have undergone a positive development in recent weeks. Not only have the Black & Red & Whites remained unbeaten in five consecutive Bundesliga games, but Omar Marmoush and Co. have also scored at least one goal in nine of the last ten BL matches. The approach has changed. Coach Dino Toppmöller has agreed to take more risks in his own game and is doing quite well so far

Does Eintracht start the game with a high level of concentration again?

For the upcoming away game at Signal Iduna Park, however, we expect a different approach. It’s quite possible that SGE will give the ball to Borussia and hope for plenty of good transitional moments themselves. As the players from the Main metropolis have only conceded a goal in the first half in one of their last five away games, there is much to suggest that we will once again see a rather low-scoring first half on Sunday. At Betano, attractive odds in the region of 1.95 are available for the 1X & Under 1.5 (1st half) bet between Dortmund and Frankfurt.

Finally, let’s take a look at a curious record that Eintracht currently claim for themselves: Frankfurt’s last 24 goals have actually all been scored from play. Since data recording began, only Werder Bremen (April to September 2005) have scored more goals from open play. With only three goals from resting balls, Schlotterbeck, Süle and Co. do not necessarily need to be wary of the visitors’ set pieces.

Predicted Frankfurt line-up:

Dortmund – Frankfurt Direct comparison / H2H balance

No other club in the Bundesliga has defeated Borussia Dortmund more times than Eintracht Frankfurt (49). The 197 goals scored are also the best figure. The pendulum has also swung in favor of the Black & Yellows in recent head-to-head matches. BVB have taken 13 out of a possible 15 points from their last five Bundesliga encounters (4-1-0) and have only lost one of the last 14 meetings in the German top flight against the Hessians. Dortmund have even won eleven of their last twelve home matches in the Bundesliga. The reigning runners-up’s role as favorites according to the Dortmund vs. Frankfurt odds is therefore completely  understandable.

Dortmund – Frankfurt betting tip

Following Wednesday’s fine success in the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund are back in action in the Bundesliga this weekend. The Black & Yellows cannot afford any slip-ups in the battle for the coveted CL tickets. Nevertheless, the home match against Eintracht Frankfurt will be no walk in the park. SGE have only lost one of their last ten Bundesliga matches, are unbeaten in five games and have improved considerably in recent weeks, particularly in attack.

Nevertheless, BVB should have the better cards in the direct duel. Terzic’s team have only lost one of their last eleven Bundesliga matches, have recently won three competitive matches in a row and have one of the most stable defenses in the second half of the season. In eleven competitive matches in the 2024 soccer year, they have only conceded seven goals. Six clean sheets after the winter break underline the improved back line, which will also want to make life difficult for Eintracht’s offense on Sunday. We do not expect a similar high-scoring spectacle as the 3:3 in the first leg this time and therefore tend to bet on a maximum of four goals after 90 minutes between Dortmund and Frankfurt

We combine the bet on the under 4.5 with the home win for BVB and argue – in addition to the good form – also with the fact that Borussia won eleven of the last twelve home games in the league against the Black-Red-Whites. Oddset is offering 2.10 at the top for the hosts to score a maximum of four goals in the match