The Bundesliga will commence this weekend and the Big Game Focus takes a look at the fixture between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig with a few tips for your consideration.
Former Nice coach Lucien Favre will have a tricky opener for his first league match in charge of Borussia Dortmund when they take on Ralf Rangnick’s RB Leipzig at the Signal-Iduna Park this weekend.
Dortmund are looking to reconstruct a team to challenge Bayern Munich and there are a number of changes that have been witnessed in the recent past. This fixture will provide a litmus test to their efforts as they will be facing a formidable opposition who won the corresponding fixture last season 2-3.
Leipzig are beginning the season with Sporting Director Ralf Rangnick as manager, after he switched roles temporarily for a season before the arrival of Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann in the summer. Whether the man in charge can hold forth and exceed expectations is something that will be interesting to watch.
Betting preview
Dortmund scored 12 goals in their last five home outings at Signal Iduna Park, which is an average of 2.4 goals per game. Leipzig for their part looked very unpredictable on the road during last season, losing 3-0 to the struggling Mainz 05 one week, then beating Hertha Berlin 6-2 the next. Backing Over 2.5 Goals at odds of 1. 50 here looks very promising.
Two of the last three meetings between the two sides have seen goals on both ends and the two have some exciting talent upfront. There is a very good likelihood for Both Teams to Score and you can back that here at odds of 1.50.
New Dortmund captain Marco Reus is unbeaten in two career appearances against Leipzig and he is set to start again. Therefore you can back a Home Win at odds of 1.75 here.
Team news
The hosts have done considerable business in the transfer market which includes the signing of defender Abdou Diallo from Mainz 05, Real Madrid loanee Achraf Hakimi, and midfielders Thomas Delaney from Werder Bremen and Axel Witzel from Tianjin Quanjian. A number of these players are expected to start with Diallo topping that list.
RB Leipzig have also seen a few new signings including defenders Nordi Mukiele from Montpellier and Matheus Cunha from Sion.
Probable lineups
Borussia Dortmund: Burki, Akanji, Diallo, Schmelzer, Delaney, Witsel, Pulisic, Reus, Wolf, Philip.
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Laimer, Mukiele, Upamecano, Saracchi, Bruma, Demme, Ilsanker, Forsberg, Augustin, Werner.