Borussia Dortmund will be hoping to continue their good run of form, after they dismantled FC Bayern in their own stadium a few days ago, to sail through to the finals of DFB Pokal. This weekend, they will host FC Koln at the Signal Iduna Park, hoping to keep a hold on to their third position in the table. The Dortmund side is looking substantially strong after the comebacks of Marco Reus and Raphael Guerreiro from injury.
Here is the predicted lineup for the Black and Yellows which will feature against Die Effzeh.
Goalkeeper: Roman Burki has once again proved why he’s been chosen as the number one keeper for Borussia Dortmund. His strong performance and crucial saves paved the way for Dortmund to the finals. Fans will be hoping for something similar by the Swiss International.
Right Back: Lukasz Piszczek will start as the right back for Thomas Tuchel’s men. The Polish International has been a key man for their defence this season and he will once again play a crucial role in stopping the likes of Anthony Modeste and Co.
Center Back(R): Sokratis’ leadership from the back has played a key role in Dortmund’s resurgence late in the season. The Greek International has arguably been Dortmund’s best player in 2017 and surely one of the best performing defenders in the Bundesliga this season.
Center Back(L): Sven Bender’s heroic performance against Bayern saved Dortmund in midweek. The German defender will once again be a key part of that defence in stopping Koln.
Left Back: Marcel Schmelzer is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup after a strong showing against Bayern. His linkup play with Marco Reus and Guerreiro in the final third will be crucial for the home side.
Central Defensive Midfielder: Julian Weigl is undeniably Dortmund’s best asset in their midfield right now. The young 21-year old will be looking to shape the midfield as they seek to dominate Koln.
Right Midfield: Ousmane Dembele might be rested which will open the door for Christian Pulisic to start the game. The American wonderkid has been another rising star in the Bundesliga this season.
Central Midfield: Shinji Kagawa is expected to start this game, after being benched for the Bayern encounter. The Japanese International will be crucial for Dortmund in the offensive zones.
Central Midfield: Raphael Guerreiro has been a game changer at times for the Black and Yellows. It’s no doubt that the Portuguese international has been a bargain for Dortmund. He is a key man for the Ruhr side, as they like to dominate the possession.
Left Midfield: No words needed for Marco Reus. The German International showed his worth to the team, as he scored four goals in four matches after coming back from injury. He is still one of Germany’s finest assets in the offensive areas.
Striker: Slowly and steadily, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has so far managed to pip Robert Lewandowski as the leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga this term. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the likes of Reus and Guerreiro.
