Dortmund's troubles could continue against bitter rivals Schalke

Bundesliga
2.30pm Saturday

Dortmund’s midweek Champions League defeat to visitors Tottenham heaped the pressure on Peter Bosz and a Bundesliga mishap at home to high-flying rivals Schalke could be the final straw for the friendless coach.

Dortmund found themselves top of the pile following a 2-1 win at Augsburg in September but five games later BVB are in a crisis and languishing outside the Champions League places.

Bosz’s troops are short on confidence and their only win in their last nine competitive matches came in a 5-0 drubbing of third division outfit Magdeburg in the second round of the German Cup.

Dortmund are shipping goals too freely - the their defence has been breached 14 times in their last five league games - and Bosz is struggling to adapt to life without key players.

Lukasz Pizsczek, Erik Durm, Marco Reus and Sebastian Rode remain long-term absentees while it's a big ask to expect the returning Christian Pulisic to improve such a fragile defence.

Schalke have won on just one of their last seven visits to Westfalenstadion but if they are to add to that solitary success then this is their time.

The Royal Blues are flying - they are unbeaten in seven matches - and under the talented Domenico Tedesco they can continue to move in the right direction.

Schalke have the added bonus of not having played in Europe in midweek and, spearheaded by the physical Guido Burgstaller, could pile more woe on a disgruntled Dortmund.

Recommendation
Schalke or draw double chance
1pt 23-20 bet365

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