Dortmund’s title chase continues as they’re in a must win scenario as they host their fierce rivals Schalke.
Dortmund are currently 2nd in the Bundesliga table but are just one point away from Bayern and with 4 games to go it is safe to say they must win every game from here on if they want to be within a chance of lifting a trophy by the end. Meanwhile Schalke are only 15th and have by bar been one of the biggest disappointments this season with their disastrous play. Schalke are 6 pts clear of relegation playoff zone but are not over the line officially yet.
Dortmund are entering this weekend on some really good form. They’ve won 5 games from their last 6 although that lone game they didn’t win was a 5-0 defeat to Bayern, Dortmund have done well to bounce back from it with back to back wins and are coming off a very good away win at Freiburg where they battered them 0-4 last weekend to stay alive in the title race. Dortmund have scored 13 goals in their last 6 games and have definitely looked more like their 1st half of the season selves bar that Bayern game.
Schalke have been on an absolutely horror run of form for months now having lost just 10 of their last 13 games and only managing 1 Win which came against worst side in the league Hannover in the stretch and they have been absolutely horrific defensively having conceded 35 goals in these 13 games. Schalke are currently coming off a 2-5 defeat to Hoffenheim which really sums up where they’re at in this moment of time.
Dortmund have been absolutely exceptional at home this season with a 13W 2D 0L record which is the best in the league and alongside that they’ve scored 47 league goals here which is also the best in the league. Dortmund have won 4 straight league games at home as well currently so them dropping points is a huge rarity in front of their fans this year.
Schalke have been slightly better away from home than at home but nevertheless they’ve still been dreadful on their travels this season picking up just 14 points from 15 games which says a lot about them when that’s better than what they’ve done at home. Schalke have been able to go unbeaten in back to back away games entering this game but it did came against the bottom 2 in Nurnberg and Hannover and prior to that they had lost 4 straight conceding 17 goals against better sides. Whether they’re home or away it just hasn’t mattered, Schalke have been BAD.
Jadon Sancho is the player to watch for Dortmund. With 11 goals and 13 assists he has the tied most goal contributions in the league with Reus for Dortmund. Sancho has been in spectacular form entering this game having scored 3 goals in his last 2 games and will be hoping to keep that here.
As for Schalke their danger man is Daniel Caligiuri. He’s the clubs top scorer in the league with 5 goals and got on the scoresheet last week against Hoffenheim.
Borussia Dortmund won the reverse fixture between these sides 1-2 back in December as Jadon Sancho’s 74th min goal earned them all 3 points.
Further looking at H2H, Dortmund are unbeaten in 5 straight at home against Schalke though 3 of those ended with draws including the last 2 meetings here and the most recent was a famous Schalke come back as they came back from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 last season. A lot has definitely changed since the last meeting here though.
Dortmund are huge bookies favourites to win this game at 1.32 with Schalke tipped as long shot underdogs to win at 9.50, Draw is 5.30. Dortmund are clearly the far superior side at the moment looking at the table and the contrast in form so it should not be a surprise that they’re such big favourites to win here. Anything other than a Dortmund win would be a surprise. Odds are based on Unibet.
Team News
Borussia Dortmund: Dan Axel Zagadou is expected to be out while Lukas Piszczek will face a late fitness test to determine whether he’ll be available.
Schalke: Steven Skrzybski is expected to be out as he’s been inconsistent with his health all season while Nabil Bentabled could return after being left out last week.
Betting Stats
Dortmund have covered 66.7% of their total goal overs at home this season (10-5). Tied 3rd best in Bundesliga.
Dortmund have covered 53.3% of their total 1st half goal overs at home this season (8-7).
Dortmund average 1 booking per game at home in the league this season (15 bookings in 15 games).
Paco Alcacer and Marco Reus are Dortmund’s top scorers at home in the league this season with 10 goals each in front of their fans. Jadon Sancho has 8.
Dortmund have covered 60% of their Handicaps at home in the league this season which is tied best (9-1-5).
Dortmund have covered 53.3% of their 1st half Handicaps at home in the league this season (8-1-6).
Schalke have covered 53.3% of their total goal overs away from home in the league this season (8-7).
Schalke have only covered 20% of their total 1st half goal overs away from home in the league this season however which is worst in Bundesliga (3-6-6). Tend to have much more goals in their 2nd halves.
Schalke average 2.4 bookings per game away from home in the league this season (36 bookings in 15 games).
Breel Embolo is Schalke’s top scorer away from home in the league with 3 away goals in Bundesliga.
Schalke have covered 33.3% of their Handicaps away from home in the league this season (5-2-8). Tied 2nd worst in the league.
Schalke have covered 33.3% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home, but have also had 33.3% Void and 33.3% Lost in the league this season (5-5-5).
KICK OFF – 27th April 2019 – 2:30pm UK Time
.png?v=1.014689135)
