Predicted Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen XIs: Granit Xhaka a doubt | OneFootball

Granit Xhaka is a doubt for Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga clash against Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion on Friday night. Xabi Alonso will also be without Amine Adli for 2025’s opening league game but Patrik Schick – who remains in excellent form – should start ahead of Victor Boniface, who will undergo a late fitness test.

Schick ended 2024 on a high with four goals in Bayer Leverkusen’s 5-1 thrashing of Freiburg with Alonso’s side four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Alonso has an almost full-strength squad available, but should Xhaka fail to make the squad, it would be a huge blow for Die Werkself. In the Swiss’ absence, Robert Andrich would likely start alongside Exequiel Palacios with Aleix Garcia another option.

As for Borussia Dortmund, Nuri Sahin confirmed that Waldemar Anton is ill while Niklas Sule is unavailable due to an ankle injury, meaning that Emre Can is likely to partner Nico Schlotterbeck in defence.

Dortmund’s squad largely picks itself, with Karim Adeyemi and Jamie Gittens starting ahead of Donyell Malen – who is nearing a move to Aston Villa – and Marcel Sabitzer, with Sahin opting for Maximilian to start behind Serhou Guirassy.

Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen Predicted XIs

Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel – Julian Ryerson, Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini – Felix Nmecha – Karim Adeyemi, Maximilian Beier, Julian Brandt, Jamie Gittens – Serhou Guirassy

Bayer Leverkusen: Lukas Hradecky – Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie – Jeremie Frimpong, Exequiel Palacios, Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo – Florian Wirtz, Nathan Tella – Patrik Schick.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder