Bayer Leverkusen will welcome Borussia Dortmund to BayArena in this weekend’s biggest clash in the Bundesliga.

The Bundesliga spotlight falls brightly on the BayArena this Saturday night as Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund collide in the standout fixture of the weekend. Both sides arrive buoyed by midweek Champions League victories, and with Bayern Munich still navigating a hectic schedule across multiple competitions, the opportunity to tighten the title race adds an extra layer of intensity to this heavyweight showdown.

Despite an uneven start to the campaign, Bayer Leverkusen have gradually carved out a reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s most dangerous sides. Kasper Hjulmand’s team have pieced together an impressive run of results, winning seven of their opening 11 league fixtures and tasting defeat just once since late August. Their lone stumble came in a sobering 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich earlier this month, a match that exposed their defensive vulnerabilities in Bayern’s unforgiving arena.

Rather than collapsing, Leverkusen responded with authority. Four consecutive victories in all competitions,  capped by a commanding 2-0 triumph over Manchester City in the Champions League, have restored both momentum and belief. Their attacking rhythm has been especially eye-catching: eleven goals in their last three matches underline just how fluid and incisive their forward play has become.

With one of the league’s strongest scoring tallies and a clear tactical identity taking shape, Bayer Leverkusen look increasingly like a team capable of sustaining a title challenge deep into the season. Saturday’s encounter offers perhaps the clearest test yet of their credentials.

Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, enter the contest with renewed confidence following a scintillating 4-0 demolition of Villarreal in the Champions League. After a three-match winless spell threatened to derail their season, Tuesday night’s performance showcased the aggression, pressing intensity, and attacking fluency that Niko Kovac has been pushing to rediscover.

However, Dortmund’s domestic reality is far more complicated. Even this early in the campaign, the gap to Bayern Munich has already stretched to nine points, a deficit built through a frustrating pattern of dropped points. Draws against Hamburger SV and Stuttgart, matches in which Dortmund dominated territory but failed to convert opportunities, have allowed their title rivals to pull away.

In total, four stalemates from eleven league games have severely limited their ability to build momentum. With Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig both displaying greater consistency, Borussia Dortmund cannot afford another misstep if they hope to re-enter the championship conversation.

Saturday’s clash represents both an opportunity and a stark warning: win, and they re-establish credibility; lose, and another title race may drift out of reach before winter arrives. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen enter Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with several important absentees affecting the spine of their squad. Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez remains unavailable as he continues rehabilitation from a knee injury that has kept him out for over a month. His return is still weeks away. Fellow midfielder Exequiel Palacios is also ruled out, with the groin injury he suffered in September still preventing him from rejoining full team training.

In defence, Lucas Vazquez has made encouraging progress in his recovery from a muscle issue, but the medical staff deem this match premature for his return. Bayer Leverkusen have no suspensions for the weekend, though the absence of three senior figures will inevitably shape Kasper Hjulmand’s tactical decisions.

Leverkusen are expected to continue with their fluid 3-4-2-1 system, the structure that has underpinned their recent surge in form. Mark Flekken will start in goal, providing composure in possession and excellent sweeping ability behind the defensive line.

The back three should feature Robert Andrich on the right, offering aggression and defensive pragmatism, while Loic Bade takes up the central role with strong positioning and aerial dominance. To the left, Edmond Tapsoba gives Leverkusen an athletic and ball-progressing outlet, capable of stepping into midfield when needed.

Across midfield, Ernest Poku will operate as the right wing-back, providing direct running and defensive cover in wide areas. The double pivot is likely to consist of Ibrahim Maza and Aleix Garcia, a pairing that blends composure, ball retention and physical work rate. On the left flank, Alejandro Grimaldo continues as one of the team’s most influential performers, offering width, creativity and a reliable set-piece threat.

In the two attacking midfield roles, Jonas Hofmann brings intelligence, pressing structure and high-quality delivery in the final third, while Malik Tillman provides flair, dribbling and late runs into the box.

Leading the line is Patrik Schick, whose hold-up play, aerial strength and penalty-area instincts make him central to Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking plan against Borussia Dortmund. His ability to link play with Hofmann and Tillman gives Die Werkself both vertical threat and controlled buildup.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Andrich, Bade, Tapsoba; Poku, Maza, García, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Tillman; Schick

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund enter this crucial Bundesliga encounter with a couple of notable concerns in their squad. Central defender Niklas Sule remains unavailable due to a toe injury that has disrupted his rhythm in recent weeks. His absence removes an experienced option from Dortmund’s back line, particularly important in a fixture where defensive structure will be heavily tested.

There is more optimism regarding Maximilian Beier, who missed the midweek Champions League win over Villarreal after feeling discomfort following his standout performance against Stuttgart, where he contributed two goal involvements. Dortmund’s medical team will continue to assess him ahead of kickoff, and while he may not start, he is expected to be available for selection and could play a role from the bench.

Borussia Dortmund have no suspensions for this fixture against Bayer Leverkusen, giving Niko Kovac freedom in most areas of the pitch. the away side are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, mirroring Leverkusen’s structure but with nuances that suit Niko Kovac’s more transitional style. Gregor Kobel will start in goal, offering elite shot-stopping and composure under pressure, a crucial factor against Leverkusen’s high-volume attack.

At the back, Waldemar Anton should start as the right-sided centre-back, providing calm distribution and strong positional awareness. In the centre of the trio, Emre Can anchors the defence with his physical presence and leadership, while Nico Schlotterbeck takes up the left-sided role, bringing ball progression and aggressive front-foot defending.

In midfield, Julian Ryerson will operate as the right wing-back, offering relentless energy, pressing and overlapping runs. On the opposite flank, Daniel Svensson is expected to play as the left wing-back, tasked with balancing defensive responsibility and wide support in attack.

The central pairing features Pascal Gross, whose tactical intelligence and ball circulation are vital to Borussia Dortmund’s control in midfield, alongside Felix Nmecha, who provides athleticism, forward carrying and essential recovery runs.

Ahead of them, Carney Chukwuemeka and Julian Brandt will occupy the dual attacking midfield positions. Chukwuemeka brings physicality, dribbling and the ability to drive at defenders, while Brandt offers creativity, spatial awareness and the final pass quality needed to unlock compact defensive lines.

Leading the line is Serhou Guirassy, whose explosive goalscoring form and penalty-box presence make him Dortmund’s most direct threat. His movement across the front line and ability to finish with both feet will be central to Borussia Dortmund’s attempts to challenge Bayer Leverkusen’s defensive stability.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anton, Can, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Gross, Nmecha, Svensson; Chukwuemeka, Brandt; Guirassy

Key Stats

• Bayer Leverkusen have won six of their last seven home matches in all competitions, scoring at least two goals in every one of those victories. Only Bayern Munich have taken more home points in the Bundesliga this season.
• Borussia Dortmund have won only one of their five Bundesliga matches this season against teams currently in the top half of the table.
• Die Werkself have scored 11 goals in their last three games, averaging 3.6 goals per match during that run. They hold the joint second-best scoring record in the Bundesliga, trailing only Bayern Munich.
• Borussia Dortmund have kept just two clean sheets in their last eight Bundesliga fixtures, conceding 14 goals in that period. Against a Leverkusen attack in top form, this defensive instability could be costly.
• Bayer Leverkusen have beaten Borussia Dortmund in three of their last four meetings at the BayArena, scoring 11 goals across those fixtures. Dortmund have not won in Leverkusen since 2021.

Player to Watch

Serhou Guirassy

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Guirassy remains Borussia Dortmund’s most potent and influential attacking force, and all eyes will be on him as he leads the line against a high-flying Bayer Leverkusen side. The Guinean striker has been one of the most efficient finishers in the Bundesliga over the last two seasons, combining physical strength, sharp movement, and ruthless composure inside the penalty area.

Guirassy’s ability to attack the channels, dominate centre-backs in 1v1 duels, and generate shots from tight angles makes him a constant threat, even against well-organised defences. With Dortmund often relying on moments of individual brilliance to break games open during difficult spells, Guirassy’s knack for finding decisive goals could be the difference-maker at the BayArena.

His battle against Bayer Leverkusen’s back three, particularly Edmond Tapsoba and Loic Bade will be crucial. If Guirassy can disrupt their defensive rhythm and convert the limited chances the visitors are likely to create, he could tilt the momentum in his team’s favour in a match where efficiency in front of goal will matter more than ever.

Prediction

Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Borussia Dortmund

This match-up has all the ingredients of a tense, high-quality Bundesliga showdown, but Bayer Leverkusen enter the contest as the more cohesive and consistent side. Kasper Hjulmand’s men are in excellent form, playing with fluidity, confidence, and a clear tactical identity. Their attacking rotations, especially through Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonas Hofmann, have been difficult for even elite opposition to contain.

Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, remain unpredictable. While their 4-0 dismantling of Villarreal in the Champions League showcased their potential, their domestic inconsistencies, frequent draws, and defensive lapses make it hard to trust them over 90 minutes against a side as well-drilled as Leverkusen.

Borussia Dortmund will threaten through Serhou Guirassy and the creativity of Julian Brandt, and they certainly have the firepower to score. But Bayer Leverkusen’s superior structure, home advantage, and current momentum tilt the balance in their favour.