Borussia Dortmund will hope to earn their second win of the Bundesliga season when they face FC Heidenheim on Friday at Signal Iduna Park in each side's third league game of 2024-25.
The home side drew 0-0 with Werder Bremen on August 31 and are fourth with four points after two matchweeks, while the visitors are first with six points after defeating Augsburg 4-0 last time out on September 1.
Match preview
The hosts' draw against Werder Bremen was a relatively uneventful affair, with both teams generating just 0.98 xG combined.
Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off in the 73rd minute, but at least boss Nuri Sahin can point to the fact his side only conceded one shot after being reduced to 10 men.
Last term under previous boss Edin Terzic, the Black and Yellows deployed the deepest defensive line of any team in the Bundesliga, but it is already clear from his two league games that Sahin has attempted to implement a more front-footed approach.
Although only two games have been played in the 2024-25 league season, it is noteworthy that Dortmund have conceded the joint least xG so far, whereas the team conceded the ninth most in Terzic's final season.
Sahin's side come into the clash unbeaten in their last three Bundesliga games, though prior to these fixtures they lost three, drew one and won two of the previous five league matches.
Dortmund have won their last three league games at home by a cumulative score of 11-1, although Eintracht Frankfurt's Fares Chaibi wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 71st minute last time out at Signal Iduna Park.
Opponents FC Heidenheim's remarkable success story has shown no sign of ending, with the club having won all five of their competitive games this season.
Heidenheim had just 36% possession during their win against Augsburg, but despite their limited time on the ball, they still created four big chances and conceded none themselves.
The visitors also qualified to the first phase of a European competition for the first time in their history when they beat Hacken 5-3 on aggregate in the Europa Conference League's fourth and final qualifying round.
Boss Frank Schmidt's team are first in the Bundesliga despite averaging the 16th lowest possession figure of the 18 sides in the top flight, as well as having the 16th fewest touches in the opposition box.
Heidenheim have won their last 11 matches when including friendlies and have won four and drawn two of their last six Bundesliga games.
Schmidt's side are also unbeaten in their last five away league games and have lost just once in their last 11 top-flight fixtures on the road.
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Team News
The hosts could start Filippo Mane in central defence, and look to use Donyell Malen as a wing-back.
As for injuries, Dortmund will be without Giovanni Reyna and Kjell Watjen, and there are doubts about the fitness of Serhou Guirassy as well as Yan Couto.
The visitors will be unable to call upon Julian Niehues, Lennard Maloney and Thomas Leon Keller.
Luca Kerber could come into the starting XI in midfield in place of the injured Maloney, and he may be partnered by Jan Schoppner.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Anton, Sule, Mane; Ryerson, Can, Gross, Malen; Sabitzer, Brandt; Bynoe-Gittens
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Manika, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Kerber, Schoppner; Beck, Wanner, Scienza, Pieringer
We say: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Heidenheim
Although Heidenheim have made an exceptional start to the 2024-25 season, they have played two physically taxing European games.
Considering this, it would not be a surprise if Dortmund were the more energised side on Friday and managed to claim all three points.
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