When the Rhine Rails Are Shaken: Dortmund Hit the Road for a Crucial Leverkusen Duel

Match Preview

Borussia Dortmund head to the BayArena in a key Round 12 Bundesliga game against Bayer Leverkusen, a side sitting level with ambition and a taste for high-intensity football.

Leverkusen currently occupy third place with 23 points, boasting seven wins, two draws and three losses, with 27 goals scored and 15 conceded.

Dortmund sit one point behind in fourth, having won six, drawn four and lost once, scoring 19 and letting in 10 so far this season.

The last meeting saw Dortmund triumph 4-2, a result that helped push them closer to a Champions League spot and raised expectations for another big performance this weekend.

Coach Niko Kovac spoke to the club’s official channels, insisting the team must produce another memorable night in Leverkusen after showing resilience on the road last term: "We proved we can handle it there. Now we must have another great day, because when the lights are on in Leverkusen, it won’t be easy."

From a tactical viewpoint, the coach underscored the threat Leverkusen pose, describing them as a high-quality opponent that has recovered strongly from early-season dips and recent good results in the league.

Leverkusen have notched wins in most of their matches recently, with only losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich crossing their path, while they also secured a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg and a 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League after the international break.

Coach’s Influence

Since Kasper Hjulmand took charge ahead of the third round, Leverkusen have picked up a high points tally, with Kovac noting that Leverkusen play with a distinctive, fast and deep style that makes them tricky to play against.

Upcoming Encounters

The two teams will meet twice in quick succession: the league clash in Leverkusen on Saturday, followed by a DFB-Pokal Round of 16 tie at the Signal Iduna Park (the venue for Dortmund) on Tuesday. Kovac emphasized he is focused on the first game and not looking too far ahead to a second meeting.

Schlotterbeck’s Future in Focus

Schlotterbeck’s long-term future could be influenced by the outcomes of these two fixtures. Kovac expressed optimism about extending the defender’s deal, stressing the player understands the club’s value and what it means to him, while acknowledging his personal regard for the player and the team’s goals.

Shlotterbeck, 20, has appeared 12 times across all competitions this season, without a goal but with two Bundesliga assists. His contract runs to 2027 and a decision on his future is anticipated as talks continue, with Bayern and several other European teams reportedly keeping an eye on him.

In the meantime, Dortmund will be eager to bounce back and keep pressure on the top spots, knowing that a strong run could tilt the season in their favor.

Punchline time: If football were a security briefing, Dortmund would file a ‘goals’ report and Leverkusen would prepare a full, multi-syllable safety margin. Punchline 1: Dortmund’s motto today—score first, worry about the celebration later. Punchline 2: If Leverkusen forgets the playbook, Dortmund will simply ask the scoreboard to lend a helping hand (and a louder laugh).