Does BVB vent frustration in Bielefeld?
Erling Haaland is and remains a phenomenon. Although BVB’s Norwegian star striker has only played six games this season, he has already scored nine times. By comparison, Arminia Bielefeld have played eight times as a team, but have only crossed the goal line four times. The clash between Bielefeld and Haaland and Dortmund, respectively, is scheduled for Saturday afternoon as part of the ninth matchday in the Bundesliga.
For Borussia, it’s about much more than just three mandatory points in the race for the top of the table. Coach Marco Rose’s team must redeem themselves for the disgrace of Amsterdam and make amends at all costs. If we take a look at the odds before the clash between Bielefeld and Dortmund, it becomes clear that the bookmakers are expecting a commanding away victory for the Black and Yellows.
Caution should be exercised from the point of view of the favourites, however, as Arminia have already won twelve times against BVB in the Bundesliga – more often than against any other club. But that’s it for the plausible arguments that would justify a prediction on the home side between Bielefeld and Dortmund. The bottom line is that this is the clash between the still winless penultimate and the furious second in the table, who will finally want to keep the defensive zero at the ninth attempt.
Bielefeld – Statistics & current form
Two teams are currently still waiting for their first win in the Bundesliga after eight matchdays. In addition to bottom team Greuther Fürth, this also includes Arminia from Bielefeld, who, however, have only lost three games so far and drew five of them. Nevertheless, coach Kramer’s team is in penultimate place and can already plan for a long relegation battle in the Oberhaus.
The biggest weakness of the East Westphalians is undoubtedly their offensive. Arminia have only scored four goals so far, which is the lowest of all 18 first division teams. Fabian Klos and Co. have failed to score in three of their four home matches. In their last match in front of a home crowd, they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, which does not give them much hope for the upcoming clash against the Champions League participants.
Barely any relief: Can the defence withstand the BVB pressure?
The fact that it still seems complicated to defeat the Kramer eleven is primarily due to the good defence. Only FSV Mainz 05 (eight) conceded fewer goals than DSC (eleven) in the lower half of the table. Admittedly, the relegation candidates have also been lucky with the fixture list so far, as they have not played FC Bayern, RB Leipzig or Borussia Dortmund in the eight matchdays so far. In the aforementioned match against Leverkusen, the East Westphalians were already shown their limits.
The home record also gives little hope for Saturday, as none of the last five Bundesliga matches at the Schüco Arena have been won (four draws, one defeat). Two zero goals in the last two games and a total of only four goals in the last ten home games are proof that a bet on a clear victory for the visitors will pay off on Saturday between Bielefeld and Dortmund. Even a defeat without a goal of their own does not seem unlikely from the home side’s point of view.
Predicted line-up of Bielefeld:
Ortega Moreno – Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Laursen – Prietl, Fernandes – Wimmer, Schöpf, Hack – Klos
Last matches played by Bielefeld:
1st Bundesliga
10/17 2021 – Augsburg 1 – 1 Arminia Bielefeld
10/03 2021 – Arminia Bielefeld 0 – 4 Bayer Leverkusen
09/25 2021 – Union Berlin 1 – 0 Arminia Bielefeld
09/18 2021 – Arminia Bielefeld 0 – 0 Hoffenheim
09/12 2021 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 3 – 1 Arminia Bielefeld
Dortmund – Statistics & current form
Dortmund fans must rarely have sat in front of their terminals as shocked as they did last Tuesday. The away game in the Champions League at Ajax Amsterdam became a real lesson for the Black and Yellows, who eventually lost completely deservedly with 0:4 and were even lucky not to concede more goals. From the first to the last minute, BVB had no chance and left a disastrous impression.
From coach Marco Rose’s point of view, it will now be important to draw the right conclusions from this disgrace and to show the right reaction. The next opportunity is already on Saturday, when Borussia has a short journey to Bielefeld. Anything other than a commanding three-goal win on the Alm would be the next setback shortly before next Tuesday’s cup match at home against Ingolstadt.
Will it finally be the first clean sheet for keeper Kobel?
The task at the relegation candidates will not be a foregone conclusion anyway, especially as Dortmund have lost two of their three away games this season and only managed a narrow 4:3 win at Bayer Leverkusen. Another problem continues to be the defensive behaviour, as the Rose eleven has not yet had a clean sheet in league play. Only Bochum, Fürth and Hertha conceded more goals than Gregor Kobel in the BVB box.
The fact that Arminia have not scored a goal against the reigning cup winners in their four most recent direct encounters in the top flight proves that it may still make sense to play the odds on a “to nil” victory for the favourites in the clash between Bielefeld and Dortmund. Alternatively, the double HT2/FT2 result is a good idea; after all, Haaland and Co. have led at half-time in six of their nine wins across the competition.
Speaking of Haaland, the wonder striker has always scored at least twice in his last three Bundesliga games. If he manages to do so for a fourth time in a row, he would join an elite circle that currently only includes club legend Lothar Emmerich and Tomislav Maric.
Predicted Dortmund line-up:
Kobel – Meunier, Akanji, Pongracic, N. Schulz – Can – Bellingham, Brandt – Reus, T. Hazard – Haaland
Last matches played by Dortmund:
Champions League Grp. C
10/19 2021 – Ajax Amsterdam 4 – 0 Borussia Dortmund
1st Bundesliga
10/16 2021 – Borussia Dortmund 3 – 1 Mainz 05
10/02 2021 – Borussia Dortmund 2 – 1 Augsburg
Champions League Grp. C
09/28 2021 – Borussia Dortmund 1 – 0 Sporting CP
1st Bundesliga
09/25 2021 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 – 0 Borussia Dortmund
Bielefeld – Dortmund Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
This weekend marks the 37th Bundesliga clash between these two teams. With 16 wins compared to twelve defeats and eight draws, the direct comparison is not as clearly in Dortmund’s favour as one might have expected.
In the recent past, however, the East Westphalians have had relatively little to report. Arminia have not won against BVB in the top flight since 2007. Most recently, there were three Borussia victories in a row. Schwarz-Gelb have not conceded a goal against the Bielefeld side four times in a row.
Bielefeld – Dortmund Tip
Borussia Dortmund will go into their Bundesliga match against Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday afternoon with a chip on their shoulder. Tuesday’s bitter defeat at Ajax Amsterdam (0:4) is definitely still having an effect, but it should no longer play a role in the context of matchday nine. Fans, coaching staff and club bosses expect a clear reaction from the team, which has struggled away from home this season.
Nevertheless, the signs are clearly distributed on Saturday. According to the betting odds, Bielefeld are the clear outsiders against Dortmund. The East Westphalians have not won any of their first eight games of the season, have the weakest attack in the league and have not scored against BVB four times in a row. Everything speaks in favour of the Black and Yellows.
We even lay down that betting on the double HT2/FT2 result pays off in the small Westphalia derby between Bielefeld and Dortmund. In six of the nine wins this season in the league, cup and Champions League, the Rose eleven already led at half-time. In addition, the second-placed team in the table has the wonder striker par excellence on board in Erling Haaland, who has always scored at least twice in the past three matchdays.
