Managerless Borussia Dortmund begin life without Nuri Sahin on Saturday when they host Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga at Signal Iduna Park.
Sahin was sacked with BVB in 10th place with 25 points, and his final league game in charge was a 2-0 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt on January 17, while Werder Bremen are ninth with 26 points and were beaten 2-0 by Augsburg last Sunday.
Match preview
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Sahin ended his tenure as boss miserably, overseeing five losses, three draws and just one win in his last nine games, succumbing to defeat in each of his final four.
Dortmund created two big chances against Eintracht Frankfurt, but despite producing occasional moments of positive play in the final third, their poor defensive performance cost them the chance of victory.
In fact, the hosts have conceded 11 goals in their past four matches, including twice against Bologna on Tuesday in their 2-1 defeat in the Champions League, a game that resulted in Sahin's dismissal.
BVB's Under-19 coach Mike Tullberg is set to take charge on Saturday, and the 39-year-old will hope that his side can do better than the 0-0 draw they managed in the reverse fixture on August 31, 2024.
Tullberg's side have scored 32 goals and conceded on 31 occasions in the Bundesliga this term, and these records make them the division's sixth-best offensive and 10th-best defensive club.
The home team have failed to win their last four home outings – drawing two and losing two – though they did win their prior 11 at Signal Iduna Park.
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As for the visitors, they did not produce a single big chance against Augsburg, though they did score 11 times in their previous four outings.
However, boss Ole Werner will be alarmed that his side have conceded nine goals in their three most recent games, and that their record of 34 goals conceded in the Bundesliga is the joint fifth-worst return in the top flight.
It should be noted that the Green-Whites have only faced 25.2 xG this term, and that is the ninth-best figure of the 18 clubs in the league.
The visitors are winless in the past three games – losing two and drawing one – but they did win their previous four matches by a cumulative score of 8-1.
Werder Bremen's form away from home is mixed considering they have triumphed in two and been defeated in three of their last five fixtures on the road.
Team News
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Dortmund's injury crisis has nearly cleared up, with centre-back Niklas Sule their only absentee, so expect Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton to start in the heart of defence.
Felix Nmecha and Emre Can may be candidates to feature in a double pivot given the duo could provide mobility and defensive protection in front of the back four.
In the forward line, striker Serhou Guirassy and winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are certain to play, and they may be joined by Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier.
Opponents Werder Bremen will have to contend with the absence of midfielder Felix Agu until early February, so perhaps Jens Stage and Senne Lynen will partner each other in the middle of the pitch.
Defender Julian Malatini is scheduled to make his comeback from a muscle injury by the middle of next month, and because he is unavailable, Niklas Stark, Marco Friedl and Anthony Jung could start in a back three.
Striker Keke Topp has been ruled out due to an ankle injury, and as a result Romano Schmid and Marco Grull could support Marvin Ducksch up front.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Nmecha; Beier, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Stark, Friedl, Jung; Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Kohn; Schmid, Grull; Ducksch
We say: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Werder Bremen
Dortmund fans will expect a reaction from their players after a series of poor performances, and they may benefit from the new manager bounce.
However, Werder Bremen have been prolific in front of goal in recent matchweeks, and BVB will have their work cut out to keep them at bay on Saturday.
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Lewis Nolan
