Borussia Dortmund vs FC Koln – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund and FC Köln go head-to-head at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday evening in Matchday 8 of the Bundesliga season.

Borussia Dortmund vs FC Koln – Match Preview and Team News

Borussia Dortmund Team News

Dortmund could be without key striker Serhou Guirassy, who has been dealing with illness and a persistent thigh injury that has hampered his form in recent weeks. The Guinean forward has managed just one goal in his last six appearances across all competitions, prompting manager Niko Kovač to consider starting Fabio Silva, who scored his debut goal for the club in their 4-2 Champions League victory over Copenhagen.

Dortmund’s injury list remains relatively short, with Emre Can (adductor) and Julien Duranville (shoulder) the only confirmed long-term absentees. The club will be looking to rotate after their midweek European exertions, with the likes of Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt and Marcel Sabitzer all pushing for starts.

Kovač has emphasized the importance of being “present from the first minute” after his side’s slow start against Bayern Munich, where they were completely dominated in the opening 45 minutes.

FC Koln Team News

The Billy Goats will be without centre-backs Luca Kilian (cruciate ligament) and Rav van den Berg (shoulder), while Jan Thielmann remains sidelined with a thigh injury. This defensive shortage may force coach Lukas Kwasniok to deploy a back three of Joel Schmied, Timo Hübers and Dominique Heintz.

Köln have been one of the surprise packages of the season, currently sitting sixth in the table with 11 points from seven matches – the best start by a promoted side since Hannover in 2017-18.

Rising star Said El Mala continues to attract attention from top clubs including Bayern Munich, with his market value skyrocketing from €3 million to €18 million following his impressive performances. However, Kwasniok has called for restraint, warning against the “hype” surrounding the 19-year-old wonderkid.

Form

Borussia Dortmund

Niko Kovač’s side suffered their first defeat of the season against Bayern Munich last weekend, losing 2-1 in Der Klassiker despite a much-improved second-half performance.

The Black and Yellows bounced back in midweek with a convincing 4-2 victory over Copenhagen in the Champions League, with Felix Nmecha scoring twice and Fabio Silva netting his first goal for the club. Dortmund have been prolific in attack this season, scoring at least three goals in five games and netting four or more on four occasions.

FC Koln

The promoted side have exceeded expectations since returning to the Bundesliga, claiming memorable victories against Freiburg and Mainz while drawing with Augsburg in their most recent outing. Lukas Kwasniok’s team have shown remarkable resilience, with their ability to score crucial late goals becoming a defining characteristic of their campaign.

Köln’s away form has been particularly impressive, winning three of their five matches on the road this season, though they have struggled to keep clean sheets in recent fixtures.

Predicted Lineups

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Adeyemi, Brandt; Silva.

FC Köln: Schwäbe; Schmied, Hübers, Heintz; Sebülönsen, Jóhannesson, Martel, Lund; El Mala, Kaminski; Bülter.

How to Watch Borussia Dortmund vs FC Koln?

UK fans can watch the game live on Sky Sports Football.

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