Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Match Preview
Football fate has delivered a swift and dramatic reunion at Signal Iduna Park. Just days after Borussia Dortmund secured a gritty 2-1 Bundesliga victory away at the BayArena, they host Bayer Leverkusen again—this time with a DFB-Pokal quarter-final spot on the line.
The narrative is perfectly poised: Niko Kovac’s Dortmund have the psychological edge and the deafening support of the Yellow Wall, having proven they can dismantle Leverkusen’s structure. For Kasper Hjulmand and Leverkusen, this is an immediate shot at redemption. The “Werkself” looked shell-shocked by Dortmund’s intensity on Saturday, but cup football is a different beast. With both managers likely to rotate slightly to manage the brutal schedule, this Round of 16 tie promises to be a tactical chess match played at breakneck speed.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Competition: DFB-Pokal (Round of 16)
- Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund (Capacity: 81,365)
- Date: Tuesday, 02 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 21:00 CET / 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Wednesday)
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (UK): Premier Sports
- TV Channel (USA): ESPN+
- TV Channel (India): Sony Sports Network, DD Sports
- Live Stream: SonyLIV, FanCode, WAVES OTT (India)
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Borussia Dortmund:
- Position: Bundesliga Top 4 Contender.
- Form: Peaking. Unbeaten in their last 3 games, including a massive 4-0 Champions League win vs Villarreal and the recent 2-1 triumph over Leverkusen.
- Current Challenge: Complacency. Beating a top team twice in four days is incredibly difficult. Kovac must ensure his players don’t expect another easy ride.
Bayer Leverkusen:
- Position: Bundesliga Title Chaser.
- Form: Dented. The loss to Dortmund snapped a strong run that included a 2-0 win over Man City. They need to rediscover the defensive solidity that saw them crush Heidenheim 6-0 just weeks ago.
- Current Challenge: Fatigue & Injuries. The squad is stretched thin with key players like Palacios and Arthur out. Hjulmand needs his fringe players to step up in a high-pressure environment.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — What’s at Stake
For Borussia Dortmund:
- Silverware Hopes: The Pokal represents Dortmund’s best chance for a trophy this season. Eliminating a direct rival like Leverkusen would open up the path to Berlin significantly.
For Bayer Leverkusen:
- Revenge: Nothing cleanses the palate like knocking out the team that just beat you. A win here would restore confidence and keep their “Double” dreams alive.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Team Form
Borussia Dortmund (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Bayer Leverkusen (2-1)
- W vs Villarreal (4-0 – CL)
- D vs Stuttgart (3-3)
- D vs Hamburger SV (1-1)
- L vs Manchester City (1-4 – CL)
Bayer Leverkusen (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Borussia Dortmund (1-2)
- W vs Manchester City (2-0 – CL)
- W vs Wolfsburg (3-1)
- W vs Heidenheim (6-0)
- W vs Benfica (1-0 – CL)
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Team News
Borussia Dortmund:
- Niklas Süle: Out (Toe Injury – Defense will rely on Anton and Schlotterbeck).
- Felix Nmecha: Questionable (Injury – Picked up a knock in the league game).
- Maximilian Beier: Questionable (Muscle Injury – Unlikely to be risked from the start).
- Rotation: Marcel Sabitzer likely returns to the starting XI to add fresh legs in midfield.
Bayer Leverkusen:
- Exequiel Palacios: Out (Groin Injury – A massive miss in the engine room).
- Arthur: Out (Back Injury).
- Janis Blaswich: Out (Inactive).
- Enzo Fernández: Out (Knee Injury – Midfield is barebones).
- Lucas Vázquez: Out (Muscle Injury).
- Axel Tape: Out (Hamstring Injury).
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Head to Head
- 29 Nov 2025: Leverkusen 1–2 Dortmund (Bundesliga)
- 11 May 2025: Leverkusen 2–4 Dortmund (Bundesliga)
- 11 Jan 2025: Dortmund 2–3 Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- 21 Apr 2024: Dortmund 1–1 Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- 03 Dec 2023: Leverkusen 1–1 Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1):
Kovac may switch to a back four to add an extra body in midfield given the quick turnaround.
- GK: Gregor Kobel (C)
- RB: Julian Ryerson
- CB: Waldemar Anton
- CB: Nico Schlotterbeck
- LB: Ramy Bensebaini (If fit, otherwise Yan Couto)
- CDM: Emre Can
- CDM: Pascal Groß
- RW: Donyell Malen
- CAM: Julian Brandt
- LW: Jamie Gittens
- ST: Serhou Guirassy
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1):
Hjulmand has limited options but will trust his core structure.
- GK: Lukas Hradecky (C) (Cup keeper usually rotates back in)
- CB: Edmond Tapsoba
- CB: Jonathan Tah
- CB: Piero Hincapié
- RWB: Jeremie Frimpong
- CM: Granit Xhaka
- CM: Robert Andrich
- LWB: Alejandro Grimaldo
- CAM: Jonas Hofmann
- CAM: Florian Wirtz
- ST: Victor Boniface
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Impact Bench Options
Borussia Dortmund:
- Karim Adeyemi: His speed against tired legs in the 70th minute is a cheat code.
- Gio Reyna: Can unlock deep defenses if the game goes to extra time.
Bayer Leverkusen:
- Nathan Tella: Offers explosive pace on the wing if Frimpong needs a rest.
- Patrik Schick: The Czech striker is the perfect “Plan B” if they need a late goal from a cross.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Tactical Outlook
Borussia Dortmund:
- Playing Style: High-Octane Pressing. At home in the Pokal, Dortmund will not sit back. They will press Leverkusen’s back three relentlessly, trying to force turnovers high up the pitch as they did on Saturday.
- Strength: Signal Iduna Park. The atmosphere will be hostile. If Dortmund score early, they can ride the wave of noise to victory.
Bayer Leverkusen:
- Playing Style: Control & Patience. Hjulmand will instruct his team to keep the ball and quiet the crowd. Without Palacios, Xhaka becomes even more critical to dictate the tempo and stop the game from becoming a basketball match.
- Weakness: Midfield Depth. Missing Palacios and Fernandez leaves them light. If Dortmund overrun the midfield, Leverkusen will struggle to get the ball to Wirtz.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Julian Ryerson vs. Florian Wirtz | Defensive Discipline: Ryerson is a warrior, but Wirtz is a magician. If Ryerson dives in, Wirtz will spin him. | Leverkusen |
| Nico Schlotterbeck vs. Victor Boniface | Heavyweight Fight: Boniface is strong and fast. Schlotterbeck loves a duel. This will be physical and feisty. | Tie |
| Julian Brandt vs. Granit Xhaka | Creator vs. Destroyer: Brandt finds space between the lines. Xhaka must track him or risk Dortmund dominating the final third. | Dortmund |
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Spotlight Players
Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund):
Often the difference-maker in big cup ties. His vision and ability to play the final pass are elite. Against his former club, he will want to run the show.
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen):
He was kept relatively quiet in the league defeat. Great players rarely have two bad games in a row. Expect him to drop deeper to get on the ball and drive Leverkusen forward.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Fan Reactions
Dortmund Fans:
“We beat them in their house, now let’s finish the job in ours! Berlin here we come!”
“Guirassy is on fire. Just feed him and he will score.”
Leverkusen Fans:
“Saturday was a wake-up call. We need to be sharper.”
“No Palacios hurts, but Xhaka and Andrich have enough experience to control this.”
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Match-Defining Factors
- Extra Time Potential: Cup games often start cagey. If it’s a draw at 60 minutes, both managers might play conservatively to reach extra time.
- The “Back-to-Back” Dynamic: Tactical adjustments will be key. Hjulmand will have learned from Saturday’s mistakes. Can Kovac surprise him again?
- Set Pieces: With Grimaldo (Leverkusen) and Groß (Dortmund), both teams have world-class delivery. A corner could decide this.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Prediction
Score Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2–2 Bayer Leverkusen (Dortmund wins on penalties)
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw (in 90 mins).
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Both attacks are too good to be silenced twice).
- Over/Under: Over 3.5 Goals (Cup games tend to open up as teams chase).
Analysis: It is incredibly hard to beat a top team twice in four days. Leverkusen will be improved and motivated, but Dortmund’s home advantage levels the playing field. Expect a thrilling, high-scoring draw that goes the distance, with Kobel’s penalty-saving heroics sending BVB through.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — Final Word
This is the tie of the round. Borussia Dortmund have the momentum, but Bayer Leverkusen have the quality to hurt anyone on their day. With the league result fresh in everyone’s memory, expect a fiery, passionate encounter where the fine margins—a slip, a wonder goal, or a penalty save—will decide who marches on to the quarter-finals.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen — FAQs
When is the Dortmund vs Leverkusen Pokal match?
The match kicks off on Tuesday, 02 December 2025, at 21:00 CET (Wednesday 01:30 IST).
Who won the last meeting?
Dortmund beat Leverkusen 2-1 in the Bundesliga just last Saturday (Nov 29).
Where can I watch in India?
You can watch live on Sony Sports Network, DD Sports, or stream via SonyLIV, FanCode, and WAVES OTT.
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