Leverkusen lead the league at the start of the season with an unbeaten record of 11 wins and one draw in their 12 games so far. Dortmund, last season’s runners-up, are fourth with 10 points.
Xabi Alonso’s side are favourites, but Die Schwarzgelben, who secured their place in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 3-1 win over AC Milan on Tuesday, can never be ruled out.
bundesliga. com take a look. . .
1) ‘Grim’ prospect for any opponent
Victor Boniface has exceeded expectations since his arrival in the summer from Union SG, and his seven Bundesliga goals have brought the most excitement to the groin injury that sidelined Patrik Schick from the start of the season.
But Álex Grimaldo, left back, fulfills his objective. If we add to this his four assists and the summer incorporation from Benfica, he had a direct involvement in a goal that he played every 98 minutes in the German top category. He also throws fouls, the recent Spanish coach is the maximum damage on the left. In fact, he is only vaguely a left back.
See: Grimaldo, a revelation for Alonso’s Leverkusen
How Dortmund get him involved will be key. Niklas Süle, with his deceptive top speed and an average of five successful tackles per game, could have been the option at right-back, but illness ruled him out of the game against Milan. and Julian Ryerson could get the green light.
The Norway international is a more attacking option than Süle, and would plausibly do a better job of keeping Grimaldo on the back foot, but with Bayer’s usual formation a 3-4-2-1 with wing-backs, and Dortmund’s a 4-2-3-1 without, the Leverkusen man almost has the upper hand by default.
2) Brandt’s strategy
At the other end of the pitch, Julian Brandt will contribute to Dortmund’s chances. The former Leverkusen star has been BVB’s top attacker this season with four goals and five assists, despite occupying only third place on average. among its regular headlines.
See: Analyzing Guards Brandt and Wirtz
Brandt’s ability between the lines makes him difficult to spot in the first place, and it almost goes without saying that Grimaldo’s partner at full-back, Jeremie Frimpong, will leave the box behind. Odilon Kossounou will have to remain disciplined on Bayer’s right three back, resisting the temptation to overlap.
But Brandt can play with either foot and occupy the left, right or number 10 area differently. It will be a team effort on the part of your former employers to save you from taking risks.
3) Minebox inside the box.
While Mats Hummels launches a significant amount of attacks in Dortmund with his laser-based distribution (not a specific strength of his opponent and fellow German foreigner Jonathan Tah), Leverkusen comes from midfield, where Granit Xhaka has had good luck for a while now. Summer transfer, in his case from Arsenal.
Xhaka and Exequiel Palacios are a double pivot who is likely to collide with Dortmund’s Emre Can and Marcel Sabizer. All four players can get involved in the more agricultural desires of the position, however, the two duos of the Werkself outperform those of BVB in the use of the ball.
Leverkusen and Dortmund have the second and third average ball possession this season with 57 and 56 per cent respectively (Bayern Munich lead with 60), but Alonso’s side lead with 89. 9 per cent of successful passes per game, which is 3. 7 ahead of fourth. BVB.
Flashes of inspiration from Florian Wirtz and Marco Reus can be decisive for the game at either end, but those are three pillars that will leave Alonso and his counterpart Edin Terzić sleepless nights between now and Sunday.
The Spain wing-back spoke to bundesliga.com about working under Alonso for table-toppers Leverkusen…
With 20 goals and assists between them, wingers Jérémie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo are on fire for Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen this season. . .
Dortmund may have stumbled in the Bundesliga recently but they remain top of their Champions League group and are into the last 16 of the DFB Cup. bundesliga.com takes a look at their season so far…
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