Borussia Dortmund vs Koln
Borussia Dortmund’s hunt for the Bundesliga title continues, and they will kick off their 2023-24 campaign against Koln this Saturday at Signal Iduna Park.
Edin Terzic’s men came oh so close last season to breaking their decade-long title drought, but destiny was not on their side.
The domestic title was theirs for the taking during the final matchday of the 2022-23 season, but they couldn’t get it done against Mainz, and Bayern Munich won their 11th straight title as a result.
On the other hand, Koln finished 11th in the table after placing 7th in the previous season, and contending for a spot in Europe is going to be their main objective this campaign.
An opening-day win would help set the tone for these two clubs, but who will get it this weekend?
Talking Points
Borussia Dortmund looked good in pre-season
Despite parting ways with the talismanic Jude Bellingham over the summer, Borussia Dortmund are still a force to be reckoned with, at least based on their pre-season form.
BVB didn’t lose a single club friendly game, with six wins and one draw. Like most European clubs, they flew to different parts of the world, and they got what they wanted.
And they kicked off their 2023-24 campaign on a high note with a commanding 6-1 victory against Schott Mainz in the DFB-Pokal first round.
In the said game, five players starred for Borussia Dortmund, as Sebastien Haller (brace), Julian Brandt, Marcel Sabitzer, Donyell Malen, and Youssoufa Moukoko all found the back of the net.
More than the result, the bigger picture for Borussia Dortmund is the seamless acclimatization of their offseason signings.
We mentioned earlier that Sabitzer scored his first BVB goal against Schott Mainz, and he will help fill in the void Bellingham left in midfield, as will Felix Nmecha, while Ramy Bensebaini softens the blow of losing Raphael Guerreiro to join arch-rivals Bayern Munich.
If Borussia Dortmund are going to finally win it all this season, it’ll have to be a team effort just like last term, although a little sprinkle of good luck (especially towards the end) helps too.
Koln’s goal struggles might resurface
There’s a valid concern that Koln might struggle to find the back of the net this weekend, with the Bundesliga 2023 news that some of their best players are unavailable for selection, such as Steffen Tigges (shoulder), Dejan Ljubibic (ankle), and Linton Maina (back).
Tigges and Ljubicic led the team in scoring last season with seven goals each, alongside the departed Ellyes Skhiri, who jumped ship to join Eintracht Frankfurt this offseason, while Maina was one of their best playmakers with nine assists and three goals.
With all of them sidelined, Davie Selke, Florian Kainz, and new boy Luca Waldschmidt will be tasked with carrying the offencive cudgels for the Billy Goats.
History
Borussia Dortmund have an impressive home record against Koln in the Bundesliga since the start of the 1991-92 season, as they’ve only lost once in 23 games, which was a 2-1 result in November 2020. Koln have lost more Bundesliga away matches to BVB than against any other side (L18).
BVB had an eight-game winning streak on opening day, which is the longest currently in Bundesliga history. The Billy Goats, meanwhile, have won two consecutive openers in the past two seasons.
Edin Terzic’s side was the best home team in the league last season after recording 44 points, 14 home wins, and 55 home goals, but the Billy Goats lost only two of nine away matches in the Bundesliga so far in 2023.
These two sides last met in March, when BVB crushed the Billy Goats 6-1 at home. Four of Borussia Dortmund’s six goals were scored in the first half, which explains our recommended bet below.
Betting Tip
Borussia Dortmund seems like the obvious pick in the SBOTOP Bundesliga 2023 odds, as they’re priced to win at 1.39, while Koln are the underdogs at 6.00, and a draw is at 4.60 in the 1X2 market.
Because of the quality gap between these two sides, it’s difficult to see Koln pulling off an upset against a vengeful Borussia Dortmund side. And I expect Terzic’s boys to get off to a fast start, just like in their most recent meeting. Over 3.00 at 1.68 and Total Goal 2-3 at 2.16 are also on offer, but if we’re asked to choose between the two, we’re more inclined to pick the former as our alternative bet.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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