Second-placed Borussia Dortmund remain one of just four unbeaten teams in Europe’s top-five leagues this season, a record they look to preserve against an Elversberg side who have enjoyed a fairytale start to their first-ever Bundesliga campaign.
Match News and Current Form
Dortmund missed the chance to leapfrog Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit last weekend, but twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw meant that they have gone unbeaten in their first eight Bundesliga games in a season for just the fourth time ever. The Black and Yellows built on that result on Wednesday with a 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Real Betis, but despite having now won three successive home matches across all competitions, they have drawn three of their last four Bundesliga games overall. An uncharacteristically leaky defence can shoulder some of the blame for that, but having conceded the fewest goals in the division this campaign (six), a solid rearguard has largely been a springboard for their success.
Elversberg’s 4-1 win over Mainz last Friday means that they now have 13 points, the most earned by a newcomer to the Bundesliga after eight matches since RB Leipzig in 2016/17. They have been struggling away from home recently though, failing to score in their last three such games - their worst-ever run on the road across Germany’s top two tiers. Their struggles on their travels actually go beyond this season, as including their final five road trips of last term’s promotion campaign, Elversberg have won just one of their last nine away league matches (D4, L4).
Head-to-Head History
Dortmund have faced Elversberg just once before, beating them 4-1 in the DFB-Pokal in October 1981.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Dortmund have scored 11 of their 14 league goals this season in the second half.
Dortmund conceded five of their last six domestic goals after the hour mark.
Elversberg conceded 12 of their 16 league goals this term after half-time.
Only Leipzig (114) have been fouled more often than Elversberg (107) in the Bundesliga this season.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Dortmund’s Fábio Silva scored against Betis, the 12th of his last 13 strikes at club level to come after half-time, while he’s already scored at home to newly-promoted opposition once this season with a goal against Paderborn. After finding the net against Mainz, Elversberg’s leading marksman this season, Maurice Krattenmacher, has four goals in eight Bundesliga matches - as many as he scored across his last 64 appearances in the second and third tiers!
Marcel Sabitzer was unavailable for Dortmund against Betis through illness, while Serhou Guirassy went off injured in that game. Elversberg don't seem to have any fresh absentees.
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Betting Analysis
Given Dortmund’s home form and Elversberg’s recent away-day struggles, a Dortmund win to nil seems logical here.
Author: Alex Bowmer
