Borussia Dortmund, despite their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with two wins and two draws, finds themselves under mounting pressure in the early stages of the campaign. The team, under the guidance of head coach Edin Terzić, has produced underwhelming performances in the league. Their struggles were further exposed in midweek UEFA Champions League action, where they suffered a comprehensive 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. In that match, Dortmund managed just one shot on target and held a mere 35% possession.
Terzić lamented his team’s lack of bravery in the match, but some of the blame may fall on his tactical decisions, particularly his switch to a five-at-the-back formation for the trip to Paris. To get back to winning ways, Dortmund will need to find more firepower, and they will have the home advantage on their side. Dortmund’s record at Signal Iduna Park is impressive, with over a year of being unbeaten (16 wins and 5 draws).
This sequence includes a resounding 6-0 victory over their upcoming visitors, Wolfsburg, who have struggled to secure an away victory in league head-to-head matches against Dortmund since December 2012, managing only two draws and suffering eight losses. Wolfsburg’s manager, Niko Kovač, will be hoping his team can replicate the performance that secured a 2-1 win over Union Berlin. Kovač expressed his satisfaction with the victory, characterizing it as a “tight” game.
Wolfsburg’s form this season has been relatively strong, with three wins from four Bundesliga matches, placing them one point ahead of their illustrious hosts. However, maintaining that advantage could prove challenging, given their recent struggles on the road. Wolfsburg has lost four of their last six away league matches, with only two wins during that period. They have struggled to find the back of the net in away fixtures, scoring just once across those four defeats. Scoring more goals consistently could be crucial for Wolfsburg as they aim to secure a place in European competition next year. Currently, no side in the top eight of the Bundesliga has scored fewer than Wolfsburg’s seven goals ahead of this round.
Two players to watch in this clash are Dortmund’s veteran defender Mats Hummels and Wolfsburg’s Danish forward Jonas Wind. Hummels, fresh from his brace against Freiburg last weekend, has an impressive record against Wolfsburg, boasting a joint career-best 17 head-to-head victories (with 5 draws and 5 losses). On the other side, Jonas Wind has been in destructive form for Wolfsburg this season, scoring five goals and providing one assist in their four league matches.
As the teams prepare to face off, Dortmund will look to extend their recent dominance in home league head-to-head matches, having won each of their last five by at least a two-goal margin. Pressure continues to mount on Dortmund to deliver strong performances and secure victories, while Wolfsburg aims to upset the odds and maintain their positive start to the season. This Bundesliga clash promises to be an intriguing battle with both teams eager to assert their dominance and secure valuable points.