Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen face off in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 on Tuesday, just three days after meeting in the Bundesliga.
This back-to-back scheduling gives Niko Kovac’s men a chance to assert dominance over a direct rival, while Kasper Hjulmand’s Leverkusen will be desperate for an immediate response in knockout competition.
With Bayern Munich streaking away in the Bundesliga, both sides will be targeting a cup run, but only one will progress from what is shaping up to be the standout tie of the round between two teams currently sitting next to each other in the league table.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 2nd December
- Kick-off: 8pm BST
- Venue: Signal Iduna Park
- Referee: Tobias Stieler
- VAR: Christian Dingert
- Last meeting: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga, 29th November
Borussia Dortmund team news
Borussia Dortmund are again without centre-back Niklas Süle, who continues to struggle with a toe injury and is not expected to be available for this DFB-Pokal clash. Forward Maximilian Beier also remains sidelined after a recent muscle problem, with his absence confirmed on the latest unavailable players list.
Otherwise, Kovac should have the majority of his key players fit, and there is no suggestion that he will heavily rotate for a knockout tie against top-level opposition. Gregor Kobel has been one of Dortmund’s most reliable performers this season, posting strong save numbers and multiple clean sheets across all competitions, underlining his importance as the first-choice goalkeeper.
In attack, Karim Adeyemi comes into this cup tie in excellent form after scoring in the 2-1 league win over Leverkusen at the weekend, adding to his growing goal tally for the campaign. Serhou Guirassy is set to lead the line again, with Kovac publicly backing his main striker and stressing the need for a consistent goalscoring focal point in a team with ambitions on several fronts.
Bayer Leverkusen team news
Leverkusen must cope with a notably longer injury list ahead of the trip to Signal Iduna Park. Brazil defender Arthur remains out with a back injury picked up during November’s international break, while goalkeeper Janis Blaswich is also unavailable due to a muscle issue.
Midfield options are severely affected, with Equi Fernández and Exequiel Palacios both ruled out through injury and not expected to feature on Tuesday. Wide man Lucas Vázquez is another long-term absentee with a muscle problem, and youngster Axel Tape-Kobrissa has been managing a hamstring issue, though there is some hope he could return to the squad soon according to recent reports.
Summer signing Mark Flekken is set to continue in goal and has settled impressively since joining Leverkusen, delivering solid shot-stopping numbers and several clean sheets in the early months of his spell with the club.
Form
Borussia Dortmund: LDDWW
Dortmund come into this tie in strong form after a crucial win in the Bundesliga at the BayArena, where goals from Anselmino and Adeyemi earned a 2-1 victory over Leverkusen and kept their momentum going. Recent domestic and European results have been positive overall, with Dortmund avoiding defeat across several matches and showing improved defensive resilience under Kovac.
Bayer Leverkusen: WWWWL
Leverkusen’s 2-1 defeat to Dortmund at the weekend ended a four-game winning streak in all competitions, a run that included a statement Champions League victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Hjulmand’s side have otherwise been one of the Bundesliga’s form teams, scoring freely and generally controlling games despite their injury woes.
Predicted lineups
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Anselmino, Anton, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
Bayer Leverkusen: Flekken; Andrich, Bade, Tapsoba; Hofmann, Maza, García, Grimaldo; Tillman, Poku; Schick
How to watch Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen?
In the UK, Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal is being shown live on DFB Play (the DFB’s official streaming service for the cup).
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