Dortmund against Leverkusen: Will the pressure from the championship be too great?

On Friday evening, Borussia Dortmund will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Westfalenstadion, meaning Bundesliga play will resume after a three-week break. Dortmund is currently in sixth place in the table with 25 points after 15 match days, which does not meet their own expectations. In the home table, the team is in first place with 20 points after eight games and has not suffered a defeat yet - the only weakness is shown by the two draws against Werder Bremen and FC Bayern Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen, currently second in the table, has performed strongly this season and recently won against Inter Milan in the Champions League. The team is also attracting attention with a draw against Bayern Munich in the league and Bayern's elimination from the DFB Cup. Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin emphasizes that Leverkusen has players like Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick who can influence games in crucial moments.

Situation of the teams

Dortmund's situation is significantly different compared to two years ago when they lost the league title. This season they have not been able to convince against some strong opponents such as Werder Bremen and Mainz. Referee Sascha Stegemann will not be able to take charge of the game due to illness; Tobias Stieler will represent him.

In the current winter transfer period, Donyell Malen is the focus of Aston Villa's interest. Coach Nuri Sahin confirmed that Malen will be part of the squad and has a good chance of getting a place in the starting eleven. However, Dortmund will be without Pascal Gross (suspended), Waldemar Anton (ill) and Niklas Süle (long-term injury), while Marcel Sabitzer has resumed training after injury. Sahin emphasizes that a win against Leverkusen would be important for the table and reminds that Dortmund have performed well against strong opponents in the past.

Bayer Leverkusen has shown strong form in recent games, claiming eight wins in all competitions. Sahin also praised the work of Xabi Alonso, who has stabilized and improved the team. Dortmund is unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga and last won 3-1 against Wolfsburg in December.