Dortmund seek response to poor record against top Bundesliga sides

BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund head into Saturday's Bundesliga trip to Stuttgart with one of the strongest records in the club's recent history, but their challenge for major silverware has been undermined by results against leading opponents.

Dortmund are second in the table with 61 points from 27 matches, nine behind Bayern Munich, who are closing in on the title. According to the figures in the league campaign so far, Dortmund have only bettered this points tally at the same stage on four previous occasions, and two of those seasons ended with the title.

Despite that, Dortmund's difficulties in high-profile league fixtures have stood out. They have been beaten only twice in the Bundesliga this season, with both defeats coming against Bayern. However, against the current top eight sides in the standings — the teams still realistically in contention for European qualification — Dortmund have managed only two wins in nine games.

Those victories came against Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen, however, eliminated Dortmund from the German Cup three days later.

A positive result away to Stuttgart would help address that trend. Stuttgart sit third, eight points behind Dortmund, and appear on course for a second top-four finish in three seasons. Since Sebastian Hoeness became Stuttgart coach in April 2023, his side have enjoyed a strong record in this fixture, winning five and drawing two of seven meetings with Dortmund.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said on Thursday that he expected an improved display from his side.

I feel we'll do better against Stuttgart than we've done in the past few games.

Kovac said.

But this club (Stuttgart) has developed sensationally.

They're a serious team who have grown well together in recent years and that's no coincidence.

That means we'll really need to stretch ourselves in the game on Saturday.

Undav in focus for Stuttgart

Dortmund will also have to contain Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav, who has been in strong form. Undav scored the decisive goal in Germany's 2-1 win over Ghana on Monday and has now produced 23 goals and 13 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.

Speaking on Thursday, shortly after Undav was named player of the month for March, Hoeness highlighted the striker's importance to Stuttgart's progress.

We've moved in the right direction in many areas. And we can't forget that with Deniz, we've got a player who makes the difference.

You need someone who can finish the job. We don't just have Deniz, we have others. But Deniz has to be mentioned first and foremost; his statistics are phenomenal.

Undav has scored 18 league goals this season, and none of them have come from the penalty spot.

Bayern may rest Kane before Madrid trip

League leaders Bayern travel to Freiburg on Saturday and could be without Harry Kane. The England captain missed his country's friendly defeat to Japan at Wembley because of an ankle issue that coach Thomas Tuchel described as minor.

With Bayern due to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, the club are expected to be cautious over Kane, who has a history of ankle problems.

Kane has scored 31 league goals this season, 10 of them from the penalty spot.

Other numbers and fixtures

Bayern remain unbeaten away from home in the Bundesliga this season. Elsewhere, second-bottom Wolfsburg are five points adrift of safety and, since earning promotion to the top flight in 1997, have never been relegated. The club won the Bundesliga title in 2009.

Saturday's fixtures are Freiburg v Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim v Mainz, Werder Bremen v RB Leipzig, Hamburg v Augsburg, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Heidenheim, Bayer Leverkusen v Wolfsburg, and Stuttgart v Borussia Dortmund. On Sunday, Union Berlin host St Pauli, while Eintracht Frankfurt face Cologne.