BVB starting XI in Cologne: Kovac springs a surprise with changes up front | OneFootball

In the Bundesliga top match between 1. FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund, all eyes are particularly on BVB's starting lineup. Coach Niko Kovac surprises with decisions in the attack.

Borussia Dortmund is under pressure on Saturday evening (6:30 PM) at 1. FC Köln. After being knocked out of the Champions League and the recent 2-3 defeat against FC Bayern, Dortmund wants to get back on the winning track in the Bundesliga top match and simultaneously secure second place in the table.

The situation is clear: While BVB remains part of the top group, 1. FC Köln is fighting for crucial points in the lower third of the table. With 24 points, the Rhinelanders are currently in 13th place and have only a small lead over the relegation spots. Every point against Dortmund would be an important step for coach Lukas Kwasniok's team in the fight to stay in the league.

Dortmund, however, also travels to Müngersdorf with personnel concerns. The long-term absence of captain Emre Can, who suffered a cruciate ligament tear in the game against Bayern, weighs particularly heavily. Coach Niko Kovac must therefore restructure his team once again.

Especially in the offense, Dortmund's starting lineup is surprising. Kovac initially leaves out Karim Adeyemi and Fabio Silva, who both played against Bayern recently. Instead, Serhou Guirassy and Julian Brandt start in the attack. In defense, Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini are on the field.

BVB Coach Kovac Warns About 1. FC Köln

Kovac warned beforehand about the hosts and the atmosphere in the Cologne stadium: "This team is capable of good things, especially at home in the great stadium with the great atmosphere. That's why we have to stretch ourselves tremendously and work on the opponent to defeat them."

Photo: IMAGO

At 1. FC Köln, the focus is particularly on offensive player Said El Mala, who can repeatedly cause danger with his dribbling. Jakub Kaminski, with his speed, is also one of the more noticeable players in Cologne's offense. However, the roles before kickoff are clearly distributed: Dortmund travels as the favorite. The last four direct duels all went to BVB. But caution is advised in Cologne – because when the stadium turns into a cauldron, games can quickly develop their own dynamics.

The lineups at a glance:

1.FC Köln: Schwäbe, Simpson-Pusey, Martel, van den Berg, Lund, Krauß, Kaminski, Johannesson, El Mala, Niang, Ache

BVB: Kobel, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini, Ryerson, Nmecha, Sabitzer, Svensson, Brandt, Beier, Guirassy Bench: Meyer, Couto, Süle, Reggiani, Özcan, Bellingham, Silva, Adeyemi, Inacio.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.