On August 25 at 00:30, the first round of the Bundesliga will see the UEFA Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund host Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park.
Borussia Dortmund did not perform particularly well in last season’s Bundesliga, finishing fifth with a record of 18 wins, 9 draws, and 7 losses, barely securing their qualification for this season’s Champions League. However, Dortmund performed admirably in continental competitions, reaching the Champions League final where they were defeated by Real Madrid, but still left a deep impression on fans worldwide. After the 23/24 season, head coach Edin Terzić, who led Dortmund to success in the Champions League, suddenly resigned due to conflicts with the club’s management. Club legend and assistant coach Nuri Şahin took over the reins hastily and led the team to Asia for pre-season friendlies.
Under Şahin’s leadership, Dortmund achieved a pre-season record of 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, with the only defeat being a 0-4 loss to Thai Premier League giants Bangkok United in the sweltering heat of Southeast Asia. Three days later, the team regained face with a 3-2 victory over Cerezo Osaka, led by Shinji Kagawa, in Japan. Additionally, in the first round of the DFB-Pokal held last weekend, Dortmund fielded their strongest lineup and easily beat regional league side FC Phönix Lübeck 4-1 away from home, with new signing Anton and attacker Julian Brandt among those who scored, showing relatively stable form.
In terms of squad availability, all new signings for Borussia Dortmund this transfer window—Gross, Bayer, Anton, and Jankuto—are expected to be available for this match. However, Selo Girassi, who scored 28 goals for Stuttgart last season, is likely to be excluded from the squad due to knee problems. Additionally, young midfielder Watjen, who showed his attacking prowess in the second half of last season, may also miss the opening game.
The visiting team, Eintracht Frankfurt, finished sixth in the 23/24 Bundesliga season with 11 wins, 14 draws, and 9 losses. Although they are only one place behind Dortmund, there is a significant 16-point gap between them. In their 17 away games last season, Frankfurt won only 4, drew 6, and lost 7, giving them an away win rate of just 24%, which is clearly inferior compared to other teams in European competition zones. However, Frankfurt’s coaching staff remained stable during the off-season, with former Bayern Munich assistant coach Michael Töppmöller receiving a contract extension. He has now coached Frankfurt in 48 matches across all competitions, with a win rate of 37.5%.
Under Töppmöller’s leadership, Frankfurt achieved an excellent pre-season record of 3 wins and 1 loss. They easily won their first three friendlies against weaker teams such as Juárez, Louisville, and FSV Frankfurt. However, they suffered a 2-3 defeat against La Liga side Valencia. Overall, their form was relatively steady. In the first round of the DFB-Pokal on August 20, Frankfurt won 4-1 away against second-division side Braunschweig. French striker Ekitike, signed permanently during the transfer window, scored twice, demonstrating impressive form.
In terms of squad availability, Frankfurt’s Swiss central defender Amanda and local young midfielder Wöhnig are expected to continue missing out due to injuries. Another young midfielder, Lünn, will have to wait until October to announce his return. According to German media predictions, Frankfurt may follow the lineup arrangements from the second half of last season, with Ekitike playing as the lone striker, supported by Malumo, Götze, and Fares Chabbi. The four demonstrated remarkable attacking power in last season’s Bundesliga.
In their previous 20 encounters, Dortmund has 12 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses, holding a significant advantage. This round of the league, Dortmund, after a system change, aims to secure a victory in the opening match of the 24/25 season at home. Meanwhile, Frankfurt, returning with renewed vigor, is also eyeing the final victory in their first Bundesliga match of the new season. What sparks will these two teams ignite?
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