BERLIN: Battered and bruised amid their worst league start in a decade, Borussia Dortmund could hardly have picked a tougher time to host red-hot RB Leipzig today.
Seventh in the league, Dortmund were booted out of the German Cup by struggling Wolfsburg in extra-time on Tuesday, their second round exit the earliest in the competition in 15 years.
Dortmund have lost four of their past five in all competitions, including an embarassing 5-2 capitulation away at Real Madrid after holding a 2-0 halftime lead.
Champions League finalists last season, Dortmund's struggles have raised questions about the suitability of new coach Nuri Sahin, who replaced Edin Terzic in the summer.
Sahin on Friday recognised the "difficult situation" but also sounded a determined note.
"We'll get out of this," he said. "We can turn it round. With the defeats, the cup exit and the injury list, its extremely bitter, but we will still have a good team on the pitch."
Dortmund are missing 10 first-team players, with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel on Friday ruled out of today's game.
"Ten injured players is a tough blow. I haven't experienced that before but we'll stick to ourselves and not hide behind excuses. That would be too easy."
Leipzig on the other hand have been in fine form this season.
They sit unbeaten alongside Bayern Munich with 20 points atop the Bundesliga table, seven ahead of Dortmund after just eight games. They have conceded just three goals in the league, keeping six clean sheets.
Leipzig have not lost a league match since February, a run of 19 games.
Leipzig coach Marco Rose, who was surprisingly sacked as Dortmund manager after just one season in 2022 despite a second-placed finish, said the clash would be "enjoyable and exciting."
"We're in excellent form and have good results behind us. We're in a good place and have confidence – we want to play with conviction, trust and a lot of energy."
The run has Leipzig dreaming of breaking through for a debut title, following Bayer Leverkusen's example last season.
Speaking with AFP and other media in October, Leipzig defender David Raum said "if Leverkusen did it last year, we can do it also.
"We've already won the German Cup (in 2022 and 2023), but winning a league is something else – you have to be consistent over the whole season.
"Bayern have a very good coach and a very good team, so they're very dangerous, but also Leverkusen and Dortmund have good squads, so let's see.
"But I think we have the quality to stay there."
The one thing in Dortmund's favour is their home record this season.
Dortmund's four wins in the league have all come at home, while their best performance under Sahin – a 7-1 Champions League thrashing of Celtic – was also at the Westfalenstadion.
Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen host Stuttgart on Friday, a rematch of the DFL Supercup, while Bayern Munich play at home against Union Berlin.
After failing to score in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Union Berlin, Omar Marmoush came off the bench to net the winner against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Cup on Wednesday.
Marmoush has a league-best nine goals, equal with Harry Kane, along with four assists this season.
After celebrating with a blood-stained Halloween mask on Wednesday, next on Marmoush's chopping block is rock-bottom Bochum.
"I believe Omar can be a bogeyman for every opponent," said Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoeller. "But he doesn't need to put on a mask." - REUTERS